Native Title Peak Body funded for three more years

Media Release - The Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, Minister for Indigenous Australians

The Morrison Government is providing $2.9 million over three years to the National Native Title Council (NNTC) to continue its work as the peak body for the native title sector, representing the views of native title holders and their representative organisations.

 

Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP, said the NNTC plays an essential role in looking after the interests of native title holders across the country. 

 

“The native title sector continues to expand. This funding will provide a firm footing for the NNTC to support traditional owners navigate the native title system and receive the full range of benefits from their native title holdings.

 

“From information sharing, connecting native title corporations with business and industry, convening regional and national native title forums, through to providing training and coordinating cross-sector strategic efforts, the NNTC provides national leadership and a voice for the sector in important national conversations.

 

“Importantly this year, the NNTC is helping native title representative bodies adjust to the major reforms and improvements made to the Native Title Act 1993. These changes were sector-led, with strong input from leaders in the sector like the NNTC.”

 

Chief Executive Officer of the NNTC, Jamie Lowe, said the funding will help the Council focus on longer term strategic goals for the sector.

 

“With this funding we will be able to further our work with our members, partners and stakeholders to address the key strategic priorities and challenges of the sector,” Mr Lowe said.

 

“We look forward to the NNTC continuing to play a crucial role in supporting the native title sector to move forward into the future of native title and agreement making.”

 

The funding is part of the Morrison Government’s ongoing commitment to the native title sector which includes a $36.7 million increase in funding for Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) announced in the 2021-22 Budget.

 

This funding includes an additional $21 million to build PBC capacity, $8.6 million so more PBCs can get basic support to meet their corporate functions, and $7 million to support PBCs to change their rulebooks so they are in line with recent changes to the Native Title Act 1993.