Source: ABC News – Police try again to
remove Noongar protesters
Photo by Murray Regan – @copywriteregan on Twitter

About 50 police – including officers on horseback – have again descended on Heirisson Island in Perth to remove protesters opposing a native title deal.

The protesters have been camping on the island for the past two days. It is the second time in less than a week that authorities have taken action against the group. Tents and cars were removed from the site on the weekend.

The protesters are angry about the State Government’s proposed billion dollar native title deal over parts of Perth and the South West. The deal, which would prevent any further claims, includes parcels of land and a trust fund believed to be worth a total of about $1 billion.

Some of the Noongar protesters say the proposed deal would not benefit the majority and too much would have to be given up in exchange.

One of the protesters told council rangers and police they had no jurisdiction to move the group on from the Aboriginal land. She said:

“You need to read that document before you respond, because you’ve been served that notice of rebuttal.

“You have no jurisdiction over our people. That is a legal document. You need to take that back to your lawyers, get them to go through it, that is a legal document and there is nothing you can do.”