However, the elected representatives of the group say the meeting is a ploy by NTS Corp, a government-funded Native Title service provider, who was sacked by the Gomeroi about two years ago.

Gomeroi leader and one of the group’s 19 applicants, Michael Anderson, said NST Corp was trying to get itself back into a position of power and were using “disenchanted” members to do so.

“They’re using a petition of about 125 signatures as justification to call this meeting,” Mr Anderson said.

“Almost 600 people elected the 19 applicants six years ago – that petition doesn’t even represent a third of the Gomeroi.”

Mr Anderson said the Gomeroi were under no obligation to use NST Corp’s services.

“There were numerous times we instructed them to do things, but they never got around to doing it,” he said.

“They were leading discussions while leaving us out of them. They were the ones deciding what would be the pathway our group took – it was totally belligerent. We have a right to choose our own way.”

NTS Corp chief executive Natalie Rotumah said her organisation received a large number of requests from members of the Gomeroi claim group, asking for a meeting to decide who should be the group’s legal representative – and if the elected representatives of the Gomeroi should continue in that role or be replaced.

“NTS Corp has organised today’s meeting based on those requests and in accordance with our statutory facilitation, assistance and dispute resolution functions under the Native Title Act 1993,” Ms Rotumah said.

Mr Anderson said NTS Corp would push members to hold a vote of no confidence in the claim group’s leader, so they can be replaced with people willing to rehire the organisation.

Based on the number of people who signed the petition, Mr Anderson said a vote of no confidence was unlikely to get up.

“I’ve got no issues going back to the people, but if it’s going to be a dog fight it’s not going to work,” he said.

Once the meeting has been resolved, Mr Anderson said the group would be chasing NTS Corp to hand over all paper relating to its business dealings on behalf of the Gomeroi.

Fellow Gomeroi applicant Alf Priestly said the 19 elected representatives had provided strong and independent leadership, with decisions made by the people, for the people.

"Their decisions have been based on benefiting the Gomeroi people and not the NTS Corp's political agenda," Mr Priestly said.