Lifting of restrictions of entry to the Tiwi Islands

Joint Media Release - Tiwi Land Council and Executive Director of Township Leasing

The Restrictions of Entry for the Tiwi Islands have been lifted from 5 June 2020.

On 18 March 2020, the Chief Executive Officer of the Tiwi Land Council, Mr Andrew Tipungwuti, determined that, in response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus threat, all existing non-essential permits to the land and seas within the Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust region were revoked and no new non-essential permits would be granted until further notice.

In addition, the Executive Director of Township Leasing, Ms Pennie Weedon, issued Public Health Determinations under subsection 70F(12) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 and the Township leases she holds restricting entry to the following remote Indigenous communities on the Tiwi Islands:

• Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu) on Bathurst Island
• Wurankuwu (Ranku) on Bathurst Island
• Milikapiti (Snake Bay) on Melville Island
• Pirlangimpi (Garden Point) on Melville Island

On 5 June 2020, in line with the Commonwealth Government’s decision to lift the designated Biosecurity areas in the Northern Territory, the Executive Director of Township Leasing lifted the restrictions of entry into Wurrumiyanga, Wurankuwu, Milikapiti, and Pirlangimpi.

The Tiwi Land Council has also decided to recommence granting permits. Persons wanting to access Aboriginal Land in the Tiwi Islands outside of the listed townships, and who do not meet the requirements of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, must apply for a permit from the Tiwi Land Council.