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Aboriginal Land Rights Act (Northern Territory) 1976

In 1976, the Australian Parliament passed the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act. This opened a new chapter in the struggle of Australia's Indigenous people for land rights.

It is still the strongest land rights legislation in Australia.

Section 23 sets out the roles and responsibilities of the Northern Territory's Land Councils under the Act:

		find out and express the wishes of Aboriginal people about the management of their land and legislation about their land;
		protect the interests of traditional Aboriginal owners of, and other Aborigines interested in, Aboriginal land;
		assist Aboriginal people to protect sacred sites, whether or not on Aboriginal land;
		consult traditional Aboriginal landowners and other Aborigines interested in Aboriginal land about proposals for the use of their land;
		negotiate on behalf of traditional landowners with people interested in using Aboriginal land and land under claim;
		assist Aboriginal people claiming land and, in particular, arrange and pay for legal assistance for them
		keep a register of land council members and members of Aboriginal Land Trusts and descriptions of Aboriginal land;
		operate and administer Aboriginal Land Trusts.

The most important responsibility of the land council is to consult with traditional landowners and other Aborigines with an interest in the land. Landowners must give their consent before the Land Council enters into an agreement, or takes any action affecting their land. This is fundamental to the Land Rights Act and ensures that landowners, not the Council, make decisions about their land.

The Land Councils also have statutory responsibilities and duties to:

		attempt to conciliate a dispute between Aborigines regarding land matters;
		hold in trust, and distribute to Aboriginal associations, statutory payments from the Aboriginal Benefits Account to communities affected by mining operations and income received on behalf of landowners under negotiated agreements;
		process applications for permits to enter Aboriginal land.

Click here for more information on the Land Rights Act.