Roles and Responsibilities under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983
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The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC), and the Registrar, Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 all have responsibilities under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act. These responsibilities are discharged by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, NSWALC and the Office of the Registrar respectively, which adopt a cooperative approach in meeting these responsibilities. Our role:
The Department of Aboriginal Affairs:
- is responsible for administering the Act on behalf of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
- works in partnership with relevant organisations to ensure compliance of their duties under the Act and to ensure an effective and efficient Aboriginal Land Council system
- monitors the operation of local and regional Aboriginal Land Councils
- monitors the appointments of investigators and administrators to Aboriginal Land Councils
- conducts legislative review of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983
- consider NSWALC's advice on matters relating to land rights
- receive NSWALC's Annual Report from NSWALC secretary
- consult with NSWALC to determine date of elections of Councillors
- direct that money in a specified investment or specified class of investments be realised and invested
- receive and approve NSWALC's budget
- receive NSWALC's 6-monthly reports on funds allocated to Aboriginal Land Councils and land councils' compliance with the Aboriginal Land Rights Act
- give directions regarding accounting system, content and method of budgets and financial reports
- appoint investigators and administrators to Aboriginal Land Councils
- receive monthly reports of investigators and administrators appointed to land councils
- notify NSWALC that funds may be resumed to an Aboriginal Land Council after consideration of a report prepared by an investigator or administrator
- acquire land in exceptional circumstances for the purposes of the Act
- 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
- appoint investigators or administrators to Aboriginal Land Councils or to NSWALC
- declare that a Regional or Local Aboriginal Land Council is dissolved, on recommendation of NSWALC
- determine travelling and subsistence allowances of councillors, and may remove Councillors from office.
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If you want more information on the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 or general land rights issues, you can contact one of the following:
The Department of Aboriginal Affairs on 9219 0700
The Office of the Registrar, ALRA on 9219 0746
The NSW Aboriginal Land Council on 9689 4444
