Role of Department of Aboriginal Affairs & Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983

The Role of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs is to administer the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 on behalf of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. This includes:

working in partnership with relevant organisations, such as the NSW Aboriginal Land Council and the Office of the Registrar of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, to ensure compliance with the Act

monitoring the operation of Local Aboriginal Land Councils

monitoring the operation of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council

monitoring the appointment of investigators and administrators to Aboriginal Land Councils

conducting legislative review of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983

The Department of Aboriginal Affairs has the responsibility to provide advice to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in relation to his legislative responsibilities that include:

consider the NSW Aboriginal Land Council's advice on matters relating to land rights

receive the NSW Aboriginal Land Council's Annual Report

consult with the NSW Aboriginal Land Council to determine date of elections of Councillors

direct that the NSW Aboriginal Land Council's money is in a specified investment or specified class of investments

receive and approve the NSW Aboriginal Land Council's budget

receive 6-monthly reports from the NSW Aboriginal Land Council on the funds allocated to Local Aboriginal Land Councils and their compliance with the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983

appoint investigators and administrators to Aboriginal Land Councils

receive monthly reports of investigators and administrators appointed to land councils

notify the NSW Aboriginal Land Council that funds may be resumed to an Aboriginal Land Council after consideration of a report prepared by an administrator

acquire land in exceptional circumstances for the purposes of Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983

transfer the land to an Aboriginal Land Council or other organisation established for the benefit of Aboriginal people

determine that certain Aboriginal Land Council lands are exempt from the payment of rates

make an order that a Local Aboriginal Land Council is dissolved and/or amalgamated

determine travel and other allowances of councillors,

remove Councillors from office.