Australian court rules city belongs to Aborigines

ABORIGINES won native title to land that includes a state capital — and a major Australian city — for the first time, potentially setting a precedent that could apply to other capitals.

A Federal Court judge in Canberra ruled that the Noongar people were the traditional owners of a 2,300 square mile area of Western Australia state that includes the state capital, Perth, a city of 1.7 million.

But the law only grants Aborigines very limited rights to the land, and indigenous people say the issue is about recognition of their rights, not moving homeowners out.