News & Publications
Northern Land Council supports NTG call for COVID vigilance – but don’t forget the flu!
Jul 7, 2022
The NLC supports NT Chief Minister's call for increased vigilance in response to the rise in COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the BA4 and BA5 Omicron variants in the NT.
NLC Biosecurity Zones end at midnight, 3 March 2022
Mar 3, 2022
The Northern Land Council notes the decision by the Commonwealth and Northern Territory governments not to extend the Biosecurity Zones across the NLC area.
Biosecurity Zones extended across the NLC area
Feb 17, 2022
The NLC welcomes the advice from the Commonwealth Health Department that the Biosecurity Zones established across the NLC area will be extended for a further two weeks to 3 March 2022.
Biosecurity Zones COVID-19 Exemption Form
Feb 3, 2022
From 3 February 2022 a person wishing to travel to or from an Aboriginal land/community area which is both within the designated area specified in the determination and in the NLC region will need to have an Exemption Form.
Biosecurity Zones are needed to slow the spread of COVID
Feb 3, 2022
The NLC welcomes the decision by the Commonwealth government, with the support of the NT government, to establish a series of Biosecurity Zones across the NLC area.
An update on NLC meetings and offices
Jan 18, 2022
The NLC's Accountable Authority* has issued a Direction to NLC staff that all meetings scheduled by the NLC will be postponed until further notice.
‘We’ve got to save our kids from Covid’ - a message from NLC Chairman Samuel Bush-Blanasi
Dec 14, 2021
There is nothing more important to Aboriginal Territorians than family.
Stay put: stop putting us at risk by moving around
Nov 19, 2021
With the COVID-19 outbreak in the Northern Territory still growing, the Northern Land Council is calling on all people in the Territory to not enter or leave Aboriginal communities unless it is absolutely necessary.
Don’t make decisions about us without us
Nov 11, 2021
The Northern Land Council supports the call by the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory (AMSANT) that a safe reopening of the Northern Territory must be based on a number of key principles and actions.
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required for NLC permits from 12 November 2021
Nov 10, 2021
In accordance with the NT Chief Health Officer’s Direction No 55 of 13 October 2021, from 12 November 2021 the NLC will require its staff, and all workers on Aboriginal land, to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Statement concerning allegations of COVID-19 vaccination payments
Nov 8, 2021
Below is a statement from the NLC concerning allegations made over the weekend that the NLC had made payments for people getting COVID-19 vaccinations. Those statements were false and had no basis in fact.
NLC to Chief Minister Gunner: “Don’t throw Aboriginal Territorians under the National Plan bus”
Oct 13, 2021
The Northern Land Council – and other NT land councils and Aboriginal health peak bodies like AMSANT and NACCHO – has worked closely with the NT and Federal governments to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among our most vulnerable populations, particularly Aboriginal Territorians living in remote communities and homelands.
The NLC supports call by Aboriginal health peak body for 90% vaccination rates
Sep 9, 2021
The NLC supports the call from AMSANT for a minimum Aboriginal vaccination rate of 90% across the NT before borders are opened.
Changes to the NLC’s temporary suspension of permits to enter Aboriginal Land
Aug 19, 2021
The NLC's temporary suspension of permits to enter and remain on Aboriginal Land in the NLC area has been lifted for permit holders that are not affected by the extended Katherine lockdown.
Northern Land Council suspends permits from midday today
Aug 16, 2021
The NLC has today suspended permits to enter and remain on Aboriginal Land in the NLC region from 12 midday on Monday 16 August 2021 until further notice.
Travel advice within the NLC region – update as at 16 August 2021
Aug 16, 2021
In response to the COVID-19 event in the Greater Darwin and Katherine regions all permits to enter and remain on Aboriginal Land in the NLC region are suspended from 12 midday on 16 August 2021 until further notice.
Northern Land Council: permit suspension ends at 1pm today
Jul 9, 2021
The NLC’s temporary suspension of permits to enter and remain on Aboriginal Land in the Top End will be lifted at 1pm today.
Trebul infameishin bla NLC eriya (Kriol version of NLC’s COVID-19 travel advice - updated version)
Jul 6, 2021
Dijan stori brom Julai 2, 2021
Travel advice within the NLC region - update
Jul 2, 2021
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the Northern Territory all permits to enter and remain on Aboriginal Land in the NLC region remain suspended until 1pm Friday 9 July 2021.
The NLC extends permit suspension to 1pm Friday 9 July
Jul 2, 2021
The Northern Land Council has today extended the suspension of permits to enter and remain on Aboriginal Land to 1pm on Friday 9 July 2021.
Cahill’s Crossing to close as of sunrise on Friday 2 July
Jul 1, 2021
The NLC advises that the NT government’s Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics will close Cahill’s Crossing at the request of Traditional Owners effective at sunrise Friday 2 July 2021.
NLC -wuŋ dhäwu COVID-19buy (Yolngu Matha version of NLC’s COVID-19 travel advice)
Jul 1, 2021
Dhäwu dhipali banydji Darwinlil ga dhipali Communitieslil ga Homelandslil mala.
Northern Land Council rolls out COVID-19 travel advice in language, with Kriol first off the block
Jun 30, 2021
In a rapid response to the emerging COVID-19 concerns in the Northern Territory the Northern Land Council has produced new material in the Kriol language, spoken throughout much of the southern parts of the NLC area.
Trebul infameishin bla NLC eriya (Kriol version of NLC’s COVID-19 travel advice)
Jun 30, 2021
Dumaji Korounabairis / Covid-19 bin gamat iya la NT, NLC bin tok nobodi kaan yusum NLC permit brom Sandei Jun 27 raitap Fraidei Julai 2, 2021.
COVID-19: Travel advice within the NLC region (English version)
Jun 30, 2021
Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak in the Northern Territory, the NLC has suspended all permits from Sunday 27 June until Friday 2 July 2021.
Northern Land Council extends permit suspension to Friday
Jun 29, 2021
The NLC has today extended the suspension of permits to enter and remain on Aboriginal Land to 1pm on Friday 2 July 2021.
A message to our mob from the Northern, Tiwi and Anindilyakwa Aboriginal Land Councils and AMSANT
Jun 28, 2021
Today NT Chief Minister Gunner advised that the NT lockdown would be extended for a further 72 hours until 1pm on Friday 2nd July 2021.
COVID-19 lockdown - Northern Land Council says ‘Stay Safe, Stay on Country, Care for Family’
Jun 27, 2021
Earlier today the Northern Territory Government declared that Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield local government areas will enter a full lockdown for 48 hours effective from 1pm on Sunday 27 June 2021.
The NLC: looking forward to a continued ‘critical role’ in the COVID-19 response and the development of new Aboriginal economies in the NT
Nov 24, 2020
The NLC welcomes the recognition by the Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP of the ‘critical role’ the NLC and other NT Aboriginal Land Councils have played in the response to COVID-19.
NT land councils want borders to remain closed
Jun 25, 2020
The Central Land Council and Northern Land Council call on the NT Government to keep the NT borders with all other jurisdictions closed until community transmission of COVID-19 has been eliminated in Australia.
NLC update on permit conditions after 5 June 2020
Jun 4, 2020
Restrictions on travel to and from remote communities in the Northern Territory will be lifted on 5 June.
NLC’s Aboriginal language short films about COVID-19
Apr 4, 2020
“Stay on country, care for family” in Yolngu Matha, one of 18 language messages produced by the NLC.
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 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.