News & Publications
NLC’s Chairman shares a message about Coronavirus
Mar 31, 2020
A message for all you mob in the NLC area from the Chairman, Samuel Bush-Blanasi. "Stay on country, look after your family and look after yourself."
New travel restrictions for communities in the NLC area
Mar 26, 2020
The Commonwealth government announced that from midnight, 26 March, anyone wanting to enter ‘designated areas’ in the NT will need to self-isolate for 14 days before they can enter.
Public information sheet from the NT Aboriginal Land Councils
Mar 20, 2020
An open message to traditional owners, remote community members and the public about the coronavirus pandemic from the four land councils in the NT.
NLC information on accessing Top End communities
Mar 18, 2020
The NLC has suspended all permits to enter Aboriginal land for non-essential travel in response to COVID-19
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.
Remote Top End communities closed off to non-essential travel due to coronavirus - ABC News Darwin
Mar 14, 2020
Remote communities in the Northern Territory's Top End have been closed to all non-essential travel in response to concerns about the spread of COVID-19.
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.
Regionalisation Strategy: ‘Building the Bush’
Jan 31, 2020
The NLC's Regionalisation Strategy – ‘Building the Bush’ will help build NLC’s regional capacity to more quickly achieve operational objectives and key organisational goals. These will underpin our future as a sustainable organisation with the ability to meet challenges further into the 21st century whilst embedding our standing as a major grassroots Aboriginal organisation.
Ranger Compliance Support Project Update Dec 2019
Jan 17, 2020
What you need to know about the Ranger Compliance Support Project at the Northern Land Council.
NLC’s Community Planning and Development Program - an overview
Dec 18, 2019
Watch this video to learn more about the NLC's Community Planning and Development Program.
Community Planning and Development Newsletter
Dec 12, 2019
Aboriginal groups continue to work with the NLC’s Community Planning and Development (CP&D) team to drive their own development. Through the CP&D Program Aboriginal groups use their land use agreement income to do projects that bring lasting community benefit.
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 Corporate Plan 2019/20 to 2022/23
Sep 3, 2019
The NLC Corporate Plan provides information about the significant activities which the NLC will undertake over the four years, 2019/20 to 2022/23
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.
Community Planning and Development Newsletter
Jun 12, 2019
The NLC Community Planning and Development (CP&D) Program started in 2016. It works with Aboriginal land-owning groups and supports them to use their money from land use agreements, such as royalties or lease money, to drive their own development and secure benefits from their land, waters and seas.
Compensation awarded in Timber Creek in Australian first
Apr 17, 2019
Twenty years after the native title holders of Timber Creek – five estate groups of the Ngarliwurru and Nungali peoples – filed their original native title claim, the High Court of Australia has awarded them compensation for the loss of native title rights over parts of the land within the town area.
“It took us 20 years, but we finally got it!” Native Title finally recognised in Pine Creek
Apr 17, 2019
The Wagiman and Jawoyn Bolmo, Matjba and Wurrkbarbar groups have been recognised as the native title holders of the town of Pine Creek at a determination ceremony held on country, two decades after the first claim was lodged.
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.