Land and Culture

Land dealings amendment Bill
In March 2009 the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs released a Draft Consultation Bill, Aboriginal Land Rights Amendment Bill 2009 to amend the land dealing provisions of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983.

Submissions to comment on the draft Bill have now closed. The Minister will now consider the submissions received before introducing the Bill to parliament. The proposed land dealings amendments represent the second and final phase of the NSW Government Task Force recommendations that extensively reviewed Land Rights Act in 2004/2005.

The proposed amendments will significantly change the land dealings provisions of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 to provide a clearer process for when Local Aboriginal Land Councils apply to the NSW Aboriginal Land Council for approval to deal with their land.

The NSW Government is committed to strengthening the Land Rights Act so it can reach its full potential in improving the lives of Aboriginal people in NSW particularly in land development.