Media and Publications
Welcome to the resource area for locating NLC publications including the Land Rights News (Northern Edition), media releases, newsletters etc
To find a publication use the filter selections above or use the search feature at the top of the page.
New NLC permit system: a stronger system for a stronger country
May 10, 2019
The Northern Land Council (NLC) is developing a new and easy-to-use permit system that will better protect Aboriginal rights and interests and clearly inform visitors about the conditions of entry to Aboriginal land.
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.
1970s Aboriginal children’s art offers window into history
Jan 23, 2019
A project to reunite children’s drawings from the 1970s with their original Yolngu artists is now underway involving Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Centre in Yirrkala and the National Museum of Australia.
Carbon farming supports Yugul Mangi culture camp for young people
Jan 22, 2019
The Yugul Mangi Rangers ran a two-day culture camp in September 2018. Traditional Owners from the South East Arnhem Land Indigenous Protected Area (SEAL IPA) supported the camp using income from the carbon farming work of their rangers.
Waanyi-Garawa ranger presents at international conference
Jan 22, 2019
Waanyi-Garawa ranger Josephine Davey, Ganalanga-Mindibirrina IPA coordinator Ostiane Massiani and NLC Caring for Country women and youth coordinator Kate van Wezel travelled to the University of Queensland in early December to present a paper at Unsettling Australia, the 2018 biennial conference of the International Australian Studies Association.
ABA Homelands Project Update
Dec 23, 2018
The Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA) Homelands Project has been allocated a total of $40 million from the ABA; $35.5 million will be allocated for the delivery of activities in homelands across the four Aboriginal Land Council regions in the NT. These funds are accessed through a grant application process coordinated by the NLC.
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.
High Court comes to Darwin: Valuing native title in dollars
Dec 21, 2018
In September 2018, the Timber Creek native title compensation claim – one of the biggest test cases in Indigenous rights since Mabo – brought the High Court of Australia to the Northern Territory for the first time in its 116-year history.
NLC prepares for 2019 council elections
Dec 21, 2018
The Northern Land Council is reviewing the way its members are allocated across its jurisdiction, ahead of Council elections to take place in the second half of 2019.
Timber Creek Rangers trained in sawfish monitoring
Dec 19, 2018
NLC’s Timber Creek rangers and CSIRO have established a sawfish monitoring program on the Victoria River to record population estimates.
Aboriginal Housing NT takes home Fitzgerald Human Rights Award
Dec 18, 2018
Aboriginal Housing NT (AHNT) has won the 2018 NT Human Rights Commission’s Fitzgerald Award for Diversity.
Case Study: Twin Hill Aboriginal Corporation
Nov 26, 2018
Twin Hill Aboriginal Corporation has been running a cattle agistment business on the Delissaville Wagait Larrakia Aboriginal Land Trust for more than 20 years.
Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA) beneficial grant funding round
Nov 21, 2018
The next Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA) beneficial grant funding round opens on Monday 3 December 2018 and close on Friday 1 February 2019.
Tales from the Tinny: Fishos face lockouts as Blue Mud Bay negotiations bog down
Nov 16, 2018
The Northern Land Council has given the Government till December 4th to negotiate, or they will lock out all fishermen from up to 80 per cent of the Territory's coastline.
Community Planning and Development Newsletter
Nov 07, 2018
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.
Upgrades to Marralum outstation: Building a strong future for native title holders
Aug 30, 2018
Native title holders are driving upgrades to Marralum outstation near the Western Australian border using funds generated from a major prawn farm project.
Re-connecting Women with Country
Aug 28, 2018
The Northern Land Council’s Caring for Country Branch has adopted a Women’s Employment Strategy in response to the requests from Traditional Owners, community members and women rangers to increase opportunities for women to work as rangers.
The Women’s Culture Walk 2018
Jul 06, 2018
Thirty women from Numbulwar took part in the Women’s Culture Walk from 25-29 June 2018, traversing 40km of coast in the South East Arnhem Land Indigenous Protected Area.
NT Country Hour: Why has the NT Government changed its mind on amending the Pastoral Land Act to allow cattle stations to sub-lease?
Jun 20, 2018
NLC CEO Joe Morrison speaks to ABC's The Country Hour about why changes to the Pastoral Land Act to allow stations to sub-lease for non-pastoral purposes have "been deferred".
Vernon Islands Handed Back
Jun 01, 2018
The Vernon Islands have been officially returned to the Mantiyupwi Tiwi people, 40 years after the land claim was lodged.
NLC Rangers among first NT Fisheries Inspectors
Jun 01, 2018
Two NLC rangers are among the first six Indigenous Rangers in the Northern Territory to become Fisheries Inspectors.
Community Planning and Development: Youth Activities in Galiwin’ku
Jun 01, 2018
It’s 6pm and young Yolngu are racing up and down the basketball courts in Galiwin’ku. Youth program coordinator Josie Wright organises a group of girls into teams for a game, while others watch from the sidelines.
ABC Darwin: Ranger funding announcement 2018
Apr 27, 2018
More than $250 million over three years has been announced for Indigenous Rangers. The funding will continue to deliver 2000 jobs to 118 Indigenous rangers groups, keeping country and culture strong for the benefit of all Australians and the world. Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion made the announcement on Friday 27 April 2018 alongside NLC's Malak Malak Rangers.
NLC CEO Joe Morrison on the lifting of the fracking moratorium
Apr 18, 2018
Joe Morrison speaks to Kate O'Toole on ABC Darwin Drive about the lifting of the fracking moratorium
ALFA Pre Fire Season Meeting
Apr 12, 2018
Our Yugul Mangi and Numbulwar Numburindi Rangers attended the annual pre fire season meeting organised by ALFA NT from 10-11 April at Barrapunta.
Gunyungara signs Township Lease
Apr 04, 2018
The community of Gunyangara in north east Arnhem Land celebrated the signing of a 99-year township lease to the Ngarrariyal Aboriginal Corporation on 18 November 2017, 10 years after the Gumatj people, led by Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu, put forward a similar proposal to then Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough.
A Territory Treaty
Apr 04, 2018
The NLC’s Executive Council hosted a workshop in Darwin, 19-20 February, to discuss how a Treaty could be progressed between the Northern Territory Government and Aboriginal people. Staff of the Central Land Council also attended. The workshop preceded a meeting of the Executives of the four NT Land Councils in Darwin in early March.
The Wardaman: Looking after Country
Mar 14, 2018
Birds are closely connected to Wardaman culture. Many Wardaman dances have been adapted from bird movements and much Wardaman rock art depicts birds.
Remembering Land Rights News 1988
Mar 13, 2018
These days, the Northern and Central Land Councils each publishes its own editions of Land Rights News. Thirty years ago, the time of the Australia’s Bicentenary, Land Rights News was a joint publication, and its production was not without tribulation.
Evidence to the Economic Policy Scrutiny Committee on changes to the Pastoral Land Legislation Amendment Bill
Mar 13, 2018
NLC CEO Joe Morrison and Principal Legal Officer Michael O’Donnell gave evidence to the NT Legislative Assembly’s Economic Policy Scrutiny Committee on 2 February, and argued for changes to the Pastoral Land Legislation Amendment Bill.
Pastoral Land Bill Changes Wanted
Mar 13, 2018
The Northern Land Council is pressing the Northern Territory Government to amend its Pastoral Land Legislation Amendment Bill, which, in its present form, would give pastoralists the right to secure sub-leases on their properties to allow for land to be used for a range of non-pastoral purposes, but would severely curtail the rights of native title holders.
International Women's Day 2018: Celebrating our strong women rangers
Mar 08, 2018
8 March is International Women's Day. Our deadly women rangers are keeping country and culture strong for future generations.
Land Councils Support Treaty
Mar 07, 2018
In the wake of the despair of Indigenous Australians about the refusal of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to accept the recommendation of the Referendum Council as espoused in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the four Northern Territory Land Councils have embraced the decision of NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner to open a discussion about a treaty with the Territory’s Aboriginal people.
Native Title Act changes challenged
Mar 04, 2018
Senator Patrick Dodson, Shadow Assistant Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, comments on the Australian Government Options Paper, Reforms to the Native Title Act 1993, launched at the end of November 2017.
NLC CEO Joe Morrison on ABC Darwin
Mar 02, 2018
NLC CEO Joe Morrison speaks to ABC Darwin's Conor Byrne about resetting the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, opportunities for Aboriginal Territorians and how to grapple with high levels of dysfunction, trauma, homelessness and alcoholism in our communities.
NLC CEO appointed to Indigenous Reference Group to develop the north
Jan 02, 2018
NLC CEO Mr Joe Morrison has been appointed to the Indigenous Reference Group to advance Indigenous economic interests in the North.
Fracking: NLC's position
Dec 18, 2017
Opinions about fracking among Aboriginal communities across the Northern Territory are as diverse as among the rest of the population.
Rangers share knowldege at the Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (ALFA) meeting
Dec 07, 2017
NLC rangers attended the Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (ALFA) meeting on 5-6 December in Nitmiluk National Park to share knowledge about the challenges and successes of fire management in Arnhem Land.
There's no conflict between Indigenous people, native title and development
Nov 16, 2017
The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 is very special legislation, not just for the Northern Territory but by world standards.