5 May, 2026
The Aboriginal Land Council Network is in strong opposition to the NSW Government’s Crown Land Management Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill 2026 (the Bill).
NSWALC, Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) and supporters will be marching from Hyde Park to NSW Parliament House on Wednesday, 6 May, in protest against the Bill.
NSWALC Chair Dr Raymond Kelly said the Land Rights Network has shown unity and will march in unison on Wednesday.
“We have met with Local Aboriginal Land Councils from every region across NSW, and we are overwhelmingly united in our opposition to the Bill,” said Chair Kelly. “NSWALC and the wider Land Rights Network will not sit idle and let the Government get away with this mistreatment.” “We will march and protest on Wednesday, May 6, from Hyde Park to NSW Parliament House to let Kamper know we will not be silenced, and we are here to stay.”
“This is NSWALC and LALCs, representing tens of thousands of Aboriginal people across NSW speaking with one voice: this Bill is not acceptable.”
In the last week, more than 100 letters (which represent more than 92% of the Network) were sent in opposition to the Bill to Minister Kamper, the Premier and Minister Harris.
“Kamper cannot ignore this overwhelming majority. We are calling for genuine consultation and co-design of any reforms affecting Aboriginal land rights.”
NSWALC maintains that the Bill, in its current form, threatens the integrity of the land rights system and could impact tens of thousands of undetermined land claims across the state.
NSWALC Deputy Chair, Cr Leeanne Hampton, said the Network is angry and is standing together, united in opposition.
“This bill was described as ‘minor’ or ‘procedural’, but it has serious implications for Aboriginal land rights in New South Wales. We have had time to truly scrutinise the Bill, and put simply, what is being proposed will have devastating impacts on the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (ALRA),” said Deputy Hampton.
“While the Government paused the Bill for consultation, we have real concerns that this process will be rushed, not be meaningful and won’t be in accordance with principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent.”
“We want to be clear that any changes to Crown land laws must strengthen, not undermine, Aboriginal land rights. We want to ensure our voices are heard and that our perspectives are fairly represented… That is why we are marching to Parliament.”
NSWALC, LALCs and supporters will be protesting and marching from Hyde Park to NSW Parliament House on Wednesday, 6 May 2026 at 11:30 am.
For more information, visit https://alc.org.au/crown-land-management-amendment-bill/
| 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. |