As part of the South West Native Title Settlement, each of the six agreement groups (Ballardong people, Gnaala Karla Booja, South West Boojarah #2, Wagyl Kaip & Southern Noongar, Whadjuk people and Yued) are required to incorporate a regional corporation under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CTH) (CATSI Act). The regional corporation must be approved by members of the agreement group and then appointed by the trustee of the Noongar Boodja Trust.

The rule books

The SWALSC is holding rule book workshops to consult with each agreement group about the name of their regional corporation and its rule book (the rule book). The rule book sets out the name of the corporation and governs how a corporation can be run—for example, how to elect directors and hold valid meetings. Having a rule book that is carefully followed and works well for a regional corporation is essential to maintaining good governance.

The CATSI Act and Annexure E, Part B of the Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) provide principles that must be adhered to in the drafting of each rule book for the regional corporations.

A copy of Annexure E, Part B can be viewed within the ILUAs at the Formal documents section of the Settlement agreement tab on the SWALSC webpage at www.noongar.org.au. A hard copy of the Annexure E will be distributed at the workshops and is available on request from the SWALSC office.

Purpose of the rule book workshops

Please note that the rule book workshops will be convened for consultation purposes only, therefore no decisions will be made at the workshops. The purpose of the workshops is to assist the agreement groups to make amendments where necessary to ensure the draft rule books are relevant and reflect the agreement groups current aspirations. A series of information meetings will follow the workshops to explain the draft rule book.

A formal decision by the agreement groups on the rule books are not required until the pre-incorporation meetings to be held later in 2021.

Who should attend?

The Whadjuk rule book workshop is open to all Noongar people who are connected to the Whadjuk agreement group area, including those who are not members of the SWALSC. As the workshops will be discussing the rule books for each regional corporation, you must only attend the meeting for the agreement group areas that you identify with.

Rule book workshop summary agenda

The rule book workshops will include the following:

1. An overview of the South West Settlement and timeline.

2. The role and objects of the regional corporation.

3. The CATSI Act.

4. The name of the regional corporation.

5. The contents of the rule book of the regional corporation.

6. Questions and comments.

A copy of the draft regional corporation rule book developed by each agreement group in 2016, can be viewed at the Formal documents section of the Settlement agreement tab on the SWALSC webpage at www.noongar.org.au.