The Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation (RAC) has said it will not stop seeking further legal action, after a Federal Court decision yesterday against it's bid to change a dispute with a neighbour.
RAC has been fighting with the Gumatj clan since 2014 for an increased share of the royalties from the Gove Bauxite Miner.
The royalties are overseen by the Northern Land Council (NLC) which allocates the funds. Seventy-four per cent goes to Gumatj and the remaining twenty-six per cent to RAC.
RAC has argued it was entitled to fifty per cent without NLC oversight. RAC has sought repeated legal action, but the court has ruled against them. They appealed in August, but lost again.
The Federal Court disagreed with the RAC claim and the dispute should be settled like any other title holder claim.
RAC Vice Chairman Wanyubi Marika said they would seek to challenge the decision.
"As the creators of Land Rights in Australia, we will continue to fight for the benefit of all Traditional Owners and we will now consider whether we appeal or take a different path," he said.
"It is unbelievable that the NLC, born from the Land Rights Act that we fought to create, is now the very body fighting with Traditional Owners.
“It is time for the NLC to start working for the benefit of Traditional Owners."
