News & Publications
The NLC announces suspension of all permits to enter Aboriginal land for non-essential travel
Mar 14, 2020
At its meeting on 14 March 2020 the NLC Executive Council determined that all existing non-essential permits will be suspended and no new non-essential travel permits will be granted until further notice.
The NLC welcomes Aboriginal ranger funding extension
Mar 13, 2020
The NLC welcomes the announcement that the NIAA Indigenous Ranger Program funding will be extended for seven years.
The NLC backs NTG’s call to cancel non-essential trips to remote Aboriginal communities
Mar 12, 2020
The NLC's Executive Council has met with the Northern Territory Department of Health and the Danila Dilba Health Service’s CEO Ms Olga Havnen to examine strategies and information focused on protecting Aboriginal communities in the NLC’s region from the risk of coronavirus.
Legune Station Native Title holders reach first community development milestone
Dec 9, 2019
Native Title holders have been working with the NLC's Community Planning and Development (CP&D) Program to complete an upgrade of their outstation at Marralum on Legune Station.
Indigenous Ranger Forum 2019
Dec 4, 2019
Hundreds of rangers from across the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland came together near Darwin in August to share their knowledge and hone their skills.
The NLC members back stability and renewal
Dec 4, 2019
Delegates to the 121st Full Council meeting of the NLC have voted to return Samuel Bush-Blanasi as Chairman of the NLC, with Calvin Deveraux being elected as Deputy Chair.
The NLC reinforces that any examination of Yuendumu shooting be independent and transparent
Nov 12, 2019
The Chairman and Members of the NLC extend their deepest sympathies to the family of Kumanjayi Walker at this difficult time.
Territory Q’s profile of NLC CEO Marion Scrymgour
Nov 8, 2019
Marion Scrymgour was the first Indigenous woman in Parliament and later became the first Indigenous leader of an Australian government in history when she was made Acting Chief Minister.
NLC to NT government: ‘Stop blaming Aboriginal people for your failures’
Oct 14, 2019
The Northern Land Council says Aboriginal Territorians have been betrayed by the shock announcement today that the government won’t proceed with proposed amendments to the Pastoral Land Act.
Burial & Cremation Bill fails Aboriginal people
Oct 13, 2019
The Northern Land Council is profoundly disappointed with the failure of the NT Legislative Assembly’s Social Policy Scrutiny Committee to address serious concerns raised by Aboriginal people about the Burial & Cremation Bill 2019.
Connecting school students to learn on country
Oct 11, 2019
A three-day Learning on Country forum took place in Darwin in September, involving more than 80 school principals, teachers, rangers and ranger coordinators, Learning on Country coordinators and Indigenous cultural advisors.
Learning on Country: connecting school students to work on country
Sep 9, 2019
More than 80 school principals, teachers, rangers and ranger coordinators, Learning on Country coordinators and Indigenous cultural advisors came together for a three-day Learning on Country forum in Darwin this month.
NLC calls on the NT Government to delay the introduction of the Burial & Cremation Bill
Sep 5, 2019
The NLC's East Arnhem Regional Council has urged the NT Government to delay the introduction of the contentious Burial & Cremation Bill (2018) into the Legislative Assembly at the next sitting.
Rangers honing their skills at 2019 Indigenous Ranger Forum
Sep 3, 2019
Hundreds of Indigenous rangers travelled thousands of kilometres from across the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland to learn, grow and share their knowledge last week.
NLC Regional Councils shout out on water security crisis in the bush
Aug 21, 2019
The 42nd joint meeting of the NLC's Borroloola Barkly and Ngukurr Regional Councils at Robinson River heard more details about an impending water security crisis in remote communities and homelands in the NLC’s area.
NLC objects to the McArthur River Mine approvals
Aug 20, 2019
The NLC objects to Minister for Primary Industry and Resources Paul Kirby’s approval of an amendment to the existing mine management plan (MMP) for the McArthur River Mine.
West Arnhem and Katherine Regional Councils express ‘anger and disappointment’ at health service provision out bush
Aug 19, 2019
At their meeting at Jabiru this week the Northern Land Council’s West Arnhem and Katherine Regional Councils passed a resolution expressing anger and disappointment at the poor state of health services for remote communities in the Katherine and West Arnhem regions.
Blue Mud Bay: NLC welcomes historic Nitmiluk agreement between first nations peoples, fishing industry and government
Jun 26, 2019
For the first time since the Blue Mud Bay Decision by the High Court of Australia in 2008, a vision to resolve Blue Mud Bay has been realised in a Heads of Agreement signed today at the 120th Full Council meeting of the Northern Land Council at Nitmiluk near Katherine in the Northern Territory.
Native Title over Pine Creek finally recognised
Apr 9, 2019
The Wagiman and Jawoyn Bolmo, Matjba and Wurrkbarbar groups were today recognised as the native title holders of the town of Pine Creek at a dedication ceremony held in the town, 20 years after it was lodged.
Pine Creek Native Title Determination Ceremony
Apr 8, 2019
The Federal Court of Australia will hold a special hearing in Pine Creek at 11am on Tuesday 9 April 2019 to recognise native title rights and interests over the town.
Meet NLC CEO Marion Scrymgour
Mar 19, 2019
Tiwi woman Marion Scrymgour has today been announced as the new CEO of the Northern Land Council, the first woman to hold the CEO position at any Northern Territory land council.
NLC welcomes High Court judgment of native title compensation at Timber Creek
Mar 13, 2019
The NLC interim CEO, Jak Ah Kit, today welcomed the High Court’s judgment which awarded compensation of $2,530,350 to the Ngaliwurru and Nangali peoples – including $1.3 million for cultural loss – for the extinguishment of native title by NT Government grants of land since 1975.
Audit Committee exonerates NLC Executive Council over conflict of interest claims
Mar 8, 2019
The NLC interim CEO, Jak Ah Kit, today welcomed the NLC Audit Committee’s recognition that Executive Council members properly handled concerns about conflicts of interest.
Minister’s Extraordinary Full Council Meeting
Mar 4, 2019
The interim NLC CEO, Dr Jak Ah Kit, today slammed the Indigenous Affairs Minister, Senator Nigel Scullion, for dismissing the NLC’s decision to also meet on Thursday 7 March 2019 (the day prior to the Minister’s extraordinary Full Council meeting on 8 March 2019) to discuss an Audit Committee report and a written opinion by Raelene Webb QC as “political games”.
Minister’s extraordinary Full Council meeting
Feb 22, 2019
The interim NLC CEO, Dr Jak Ah Kit, today condemned the announcement by Senator Nigel Scullion, Indigenous Affairs Minister, that he will convene an extraordinary NLC Full Council meeting in two weeks on Friday 8 March 2019 to consider perceived conflict of interest “findings” said to be contained in an Audit Committee report.
NLC welcomes new Treaty Commissioner
Feb 18, 2019
The Northern Land Council welcomes the appointment of Professor Michael Dodson AM to the role of Northern Territory Treaty Commissioner.
NLC Governance Issues and NLC Chief Executive Officer arrangements
Feb 3, 2019
Statement from NLC Interim Acting CEO Rick Fletcher
NLC welcomes new Aboriginal Affairs minister
Jan 31, 2019
The NLC welcomes the announcement today of Ms Selena Uibo as the new Minister Aboriginal Affairs in the Northern Territory Government.
History made as native title rights finally recognised
Dec 22, 2018
Two historic native title claims are now resolved, decades after they were first claimed.
NLC welcomes amendment to NLC Land Rights Act
Nov 26, 2018
The Northern Land Council welcomes the amendment to the Land Rights Act passed through the Senate this evening.
Jabiru Native Title claim
Nov 8, 2018
On Friday 9 November 2018, the Federal Court of Australia will hold a special on-country hearing to recognise the native title rights and interests of the Mirarr People over areas of the Jabiru Township.
Media Alert: Larrimah Native Title Recognition Ceremony
Oct 22, 2018
The Federal Court of Australia will hold a special hearing at the Supreme Court of the NT in Darwin on Wednesday 24 October 2018 to recognise native title rights and interests over the town of Larrimah.
Native title holder consortium awarded first major contract at Legune
Sep 20, 2018
In a historic win for Aboriginal business development, a construction consortium involving local native title holders has been awarded the first contract of work for the billion-dollar aquaculture grow-out facility at Legune Station.
NLC condemns McArthur River Mine approval
Aug 10, 2018
The Northern Land Council has condemned the decision of the NT EPA to approve the overburden management project at the McArthur River Mine.
Barunga Agreement: Joint Land Councils and Northern Territory Government Statement
Jun 8, 2018
The Northern Territory’s four Land Councils and the Northern Territory Government have today signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding (the “Barunga Agreement”), paving the way for consultations to begin with Aboriginal people about a Treaty.
Kenbi Land Use agreement to protect flatback turtle
Apr 11, 2018
Sea Darwin has entered into a licence agreement with Kenbi Aboriginal Land Trust to maintain access to Ngulbitjik (Bare Sand Island) for running exclusive turtle tours.
Land Councils and Northern Territory agree on an MoU for Treaty
Apr 5, 2018
A historic meeting between the Northern Territory Government and the Territory’s four land councils has agreed to establish a working group to develop a Memorandum of Understanding about how a treaty between the government and the NT’s Aboriginal people should progress.
Sacred sites protected under final Kenbi Open Area Declaration
Mar 22, 2018
The Northern Land Council has welcomed the official gazettal this week of the Kenbi Open Area Declaration over beaches and the intertidal zone of Aboriginal land in the Cox Peninsula vicinity.
