News Archive

UWA Publishing title, The Native Title Market was shortlisted for the 2009 Human Rights Award in literature on November 11.

Author David Ritter worked as a Native Title lawyer for over 14 years, in the Native Title Tribunal, land councils and as a commentator and analyst.

His new release challenges the popular and convenient myths that have emerged about native title agreement making, and is the first to be written about native title negotiations, by a genuine insider: someone who participated as an adviser on some of the largest native title deals in Australia and worked within the system for more than a decade.

UWAP Director, Terri-ann White congratulated David and all those involved in the production of this very important work of social commentary.

Human Rights Commission President Cathy Branson, said the shortlists were judged from more than 200 high-quality entries nominated from around Australia.

"I congratulate all those who entered the Awards for their outstanding commitment to protecting and promoting human rights in Australia and, in particular, I congratulate these entrants who have been shortlisted."

Award winners will be presented with their trophies at the annual gala in Sydney, on December 10, 2009.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Ritter graduated from UWA faculty of law in 1994. He was Principal Legal Officer and Operational Services Director at the Yamatji Land and Sea Council Aboriginal native title representative body and was made Visiting Fellow to the Law Faculty at UWA in 2004. In late 2005 after being awarded a significant research grant by the Institute of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies, he shifted to the Law Faculty at UWA on a full time basis, researching and lecturing. David has appeared on ABC Radio National and written for the Australian Financial Review and more than 20 refereed scholarly papers.

Media references

Sylvia Defendi (UWA Publishing) 61 8 6488 6804 / 0417 967 415

Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs) 61 8 6488 5563 / 0432 637 716