ACT court orders overdue Ngambri recognition review
A court ordered the ACT government to review its Indigenous policies. This followed the government breaching a Ngambri settlement agreement.
The ACT government agreed in 2023 to review its Indigenous recognition policies. It also needed to review language in legislation.
But the work was never finished. Paul Girrawah House is a Ngambri custodian.
He took the government back to court over the breach. Justice Mossop found the territory had failed to act in a reasonable time.
He ordered the reviews to be finished within a year. House said the protocol was hurtful and divisive.
A claim that the government violated their human rights was dismissed. The court victory shows the settlement agreement is still binding.
- Paul Girrawah House
- Ngambri custodian
- 2002
- One-tribe policy adopted
- 2022
- Ngambri claim filed
- 2023
- Settlement agreement
Why it mattersThis forces the government to formally reconsider how it names and recognises Ngambri custodianship. It could change official policy.
AustraliaThe ACT's approach to acknowledging Indigenous peoples may shift, affecting how the territory recognises Canberra's traditional owners and language used in government.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 d ago
