Deed of Grant in Trust

A Deed of Grant in Trust (or DOGIT) is the name for a system of community-level land trust established in Queensland to administer former reserves and missions. They came about through the enactment by the Queensland Government of the Community Services (Torres Strait) Act and Community Services (Aborigines) Act in 1984 by the Queensland Government, allowing community councils to be created to own and administer former reserves or missions under a Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT).[1] The trusts are governed by local representatives who are elected every three years to councils called Incorporated Aboriginal Councils. These councils have the power to pass by-laws, appoint police for the community, and are responsible for maintaining housing and infrastructure, running the Community Development Employment Program and issuing hunting, fishing and camping permits.[2] As such, they work much like a local government, but are different in character as they own the land they administer on behalf of the community.[3]

Most of the Torres Strait Islands entered DOGIT arrangements in October 1985, with the notable exception of Mer Island, which became the subject of the Mabo No.1 (1988) and No.2 (1992) cases. The first Aboriginal community to receive a DOGIT was Hope Vale on 27 July 1986.[4] In the years following, many DOGIT communities were established—mostly in the Cape York Peninsula, Torres Strait Islands and Carpentaria regions. The Local Government (Community Government Areas) Act 2004 extended to community councils many of the provisions and benefits of the Local Government Act 1993 normally enjoyed by shire councils.

Communities

The following is a list of DOGIT communities in Queensland.

Name of community Area (km²) Population Excised from Date granted Deed number Primary occupants
Badu Island 102.0 786 Shire of Torres 17 October 1985 21296126
Bamaga 67.6 869 Shire of Torres 27 October 1986 21328057
Boigu Island 71.7 295 Shire of Torres 17 October 1985 21296127
Cherbourg 31.3 1241 Shire of Murgon 28 August 1986 16929228 Wakka Wakka
Dauan Island 3.6 120 Shire of Torres 17 October 1985 21296130
Doomadgee 1786.0 1181 Shire of Burke 1987 50184313 Gangalidda/Waanyi
Erub (Darnley) Island 5.9 320 Shire of Torres 17 October 1985 21296129
Hammond Island 15.7 208 Shire of Torres 17 October 1985 21296131
Hope Vale 1115.4 856 Shire of Cook 27 July 1986 21321062
Iama (Yam) Island 1.7 363 Shire of Torres 17 October 1985 21296138
Injinoo 795.4 463 Shire of Cook 27 October 1986 21328058
Kowanyama 2571.9 1112 Shire of Carpentaria 23 July 1987 21345064 Kokoberra, Yir Yorant, Kunjen
Kubin Island 152.5 226 Shire of Torres 17 October 1985 21296132
Lockhart River 3596.9 605 Shire of Cook 29 October 1987 21352021
Mabuiag Island 6.4 240 Shire of Torres 17 October 1985 21296133
Mapoon 550.1 262 Shire of Cook 26 April 1989 (none) Tjungundji
Napranum 2007.3 921 Shire of Cook 1 October 1989 21378037
New Mapoon 93.9 381 Shire of Torres 27 October 1986 21328060
Palm Island 71.0 2165 City of Townsville 27 October 1986 21328055 Bwgcolman, Manbarra
Pormpuraaw (Edward River) 4362.0 653 Shire of Carpentaria 28 July 1987 21345063 Thaayorre, Mungkan
Poruma (Coconut) Island 6.5 175 Shire of Torres 17 October 1985 21296128
St Pauls Island 18.5 239 Shire of Torres 17 October 1985 21296136
Saibai Island 104.5 368 Shire of Torres 17 October 1985 21296134
Seisia (Red) Island 2.6 184 Shire of Torres 29 October 1987 21352022
Ugar (Stephen) Island 0.4 57 Shire of Torres 17 October 1985 21296135
Umagico (Alau) 53.4 267 Shire of Torres 27 October 1986 21328059
Warraber (Sue) Island 0.9 239 Shire of Torres 17 October 1985 21296137
Woorabinda 388.1 928 Shire of Duaringa 27 October 1986 30563185
Wujal Wujal (Bloomfield River) 11.0 361 Shire of Cook 29 October 1987 21352023 Kuku Yalanji
Yarrabah (Cape Grafton) 156.1 2599 Shire of Mulgrave 27 October 1986 21328056 Gujangii
Yorke Island 1.6 336 Shire of Torres 17 October 1985 21296139

References

  1. ^ Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (23 February 2008). "Land Rights". http://ntru.aiatsis.gov.au/research/resourceguide/statesandterritories/QLD/qld10.html. Retrieved 2008-03-31. 
  2. ^ "DOGIT Communities...". Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070829131219/http://publib.slq.qld.gov.au/footprints/communities/dogit.htm. Retrieved 14 December 2007. 
  3. ^ Kaye, Stuart (1997). The Torres Strait. Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. pp. 12–15. ISBN 9041105069. 
  4. ^ Pearson, Noel (1989). "The Deed of Grant in Trust and Hope Vale Aboriginal Community, North Queensland". Aboriginal Law Bulletin 2 (38): 12. http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AboriginalLB/1989/29.html. 

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