Generational reform to empower Aboriginal Territorians

Joint Media Release

The Hon Michael McCormack MP -Deputy Prime Minister,Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development

The Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP - Minister for Indigenous Australians

The Morrison-McCormack Government has co-designed with the Northern Territory Land Councils a package of generational reforms to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (ALRA) to activate the potential of Indigenous land in the NT.

The centrepiece of the reforms is a new Aboriginal-controlled corporate Commonwealth entity, funded from the Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA), to decide on and administer grants and investments in the Northern Territory.

The ABA receives the equivalent of mining royalties generated from Aboriginal land in the Territory and has grown substantially to more than $1.2 billion today.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, said with that growth forecast to continue, the new body will empower Aboriginal people in the NT to maximise the economic future of their families and communities for generations to come.

“The Morrison-McCormack Government’s commitments to shared decision-making and building Indigenous organisations, including the community-controlled sector, are clear,” Minister Wyatt said.

“Putting the investment decisions into the hands of Aboriginal people will see more of the growing ABA balance put to work for Aboriginal Territorians, according to their priorities.

“The new body will use ABA funding to seize opportunities to invest in large-scale, strategic initiatives, such as agriculture and tourism projects, in addition to continuing to make the smaller grant payments available to support local communities and organisations.”

The new body will receive an initial $500 million endowment and ongoing funding of $60 million per year to secure a sustainable economic future for generations of Aboriginal Territorians, alongside administrative costs.

“This new entity is great news for the Northern Territory economy, with the investments expected to boost Gross Regional Product by around $484 million out to 2029-30.

“And by establishing it as a Commonwealth entity, there will be rigorous public reporting to ensure Aboriginal people know where their money is going and how it is being used to support their communities, culture and businesses.

“The new body will consult widely across the Northern Territory to set funding priorities and will have strong governance with a Board of Aboriginal leaders, government representatives and independent financial experts to ensure the best outcomes for Aboriginal people,” Minister Wyatt said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said these generational reforms were key to the traditional owners having the right to free, prior and informed consent to land use and development proposals.

“These amendments to the ALRA will support Aboriginal Territorians to activate the economic potential of Aboriginal land whilst maintaining and protecting the interests of traditional owners,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“These amendments are all consistent with our Government’s commitment to Closing the Gap and securing the future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”

The Northern Territory Land Councils welcomed the reforms. Mr Sammy Bush-Blanasi, Chair of the Northern Land Council said, “This is a historic moment for Aboriginal Territorians – we will finally have control over how money generated from mining on our land is spent. This will allow Aboriginal people to invest in more Aboriginal jobs and support culture and community for our grandchildren and beyond.”

As well as the ABA entity, the ALRA reforms also include amendments to:

1. Enhance local decision-making and business certainty on Aboriginal land by strengthening community entity township leasing, and
2. Activate the potential of Aboriginal land by streamlining arrangements for exploration and mining licenses, whilst maintaining strong controls for traditional owners.

Aboriginal Territorians, through their Land Councils, have asked for and been partners in these reforms, which have been co-designed over the past three years. The Morrison-McCormack Government will progress legislation to legislate these reforms this year.

A number of fact sheets outlining the changes are available on the National Indigenous Australians Agency website