22 March, 2026
Aboriginal Land Rights and public protections for Crown land are under attack in NSW, following the introduction of the Crown Lands Management Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill 2026 (the Bill) by the Minister for Lands and Property, Steve Kamper and his Office.
The Bill was introduced without consultation or notice on Tuesday evening 17 March. The Bill was presented as minor procedural amendments, with no detrimental impact on any group in the community. This is clearly not true.
NSWALC confirms the Bill will hollow out Aboriginal Land Rights under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 and will significantly reduce public interest protections around the management and use of Crown land. It will facilitate private commercial interests prevailing over public uses of Crown lands, including Aboriginal Land Rights.
NSWALC Chairperson, Dr Raymond Kelly, said this is an attack in stealth to erode Land Rights in NSW. It seeks to wind back the clock on the decades of hard work of Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) to deliver for our communities and for the broader NSW public.
“For more than 40 years, Aboriginal Land Rights has been a driving force for justice, empowerment and self-determination for our communities. We have secured land, defended Country, built housing, created jobs, and grown an economic base for our people. This benefits everyone in this State. When our communities thrive, the broader community benefits also,” said Chair Kelly.
“This Bill was introduced without consultation, without notice and without respect,” said Chair Kelly.
NSWALC Deputy Chairperson, Leeanne Hampton, a former Deputy Mayor and former CEO of a LALC in regional NSW, also raised concerns about the Bill’s impacts on the viability of LALCs, Local Councils and regional landholders.
“The Bill will have a significant impact on the viability of Local Councils and LALCs across NSW, with the Minister having powers to impose costs and make orders with respect to neighbouring properties. These powers far exceed the rights of ordinary property owners and should be of concern to all regional communities.”
At its core, the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) allows land to be claimed when it is unused and unneeded Crown land. This is the foundation upon which land is returned to Aboriginal communities to enable economic, social and cultural outcomes for communities.
This Bill seeks to undermine that foundation — including overriding a recent High Court of Australia decision, known as Quarry Street, that upheld a simple truth and longstanding legal position: land must be actually used, not just held under leases and land banked.
NSWALC Chief Executive Officer, Clare McHugh, said Aboriginal rights are under immediate threat and that, as the peak body for Aboriginal rights in NSW, NSWALC will fight tirelessly to oppose this legislation.
“For more than 40 years, NSWALC has fought for the rights and recognition of our people. Today is no different. We staunchly oppose these changes and will do everything we can to halt its progress. Our Network will stand together in a call to amend every egregious aspect of the Bill.
NSWALC remains hopeful that the Premier Minns and his Government will come to their senses.
NSWALC is encouraging all Aboriginal people and Allies to stay informed, raise awareness locally, and engage with their local MPs.
More information about the proposed Bill can be found at https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/bills/Pages/bill-details.aspx?pk=18878
| NSWALC is the State’s peak representative body in Aboriginal Affairs and aims to protect the interests and further the aspirations of the 121 NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils and the broader Aboriginal community. It was established in the 1970s to assist in the fight for land rights and was formally constituted as a statutory corporation under the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Rights Act in 1983. NSWALC is the largest member-based Aboriginal organisation in NSW. |