11 December, 2024

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) has welcomed today’s decision to uphold its appeal regarding a land claim over Crown land associated with a private college site in the Sutherland Shire.

Following the successful appeal, ownership of the parcel will transfer to the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council (GLALC).

“We are extremely pleased with today’s unanimous ruling in the NSW Court of Appeal’’, NSWALC Chairperson Councillor Raymond Kelly said. “This is the Aboriginal Land Rights Act operating as it was intended by the Wran Government in 1983 and it’s a great result for Gandangara LALC and the local Aboriginal community.’’

“NSWALC will always try to settle these matters with the NSW Government by agreement, wherever possible; however, where negotiations are unsuccessful, we will continue to advocate for the rights of our people, whether through protests in the streets, arguing for a change in Government policy or using all the appropriate legal avenues available to us.

“Of the appeals that have been determined by the Courts over the past decade, NSWALC has been successful in more than 85 per cent of all judgments.’’

We will continue to support our 121 Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) as we strive to pursue economic independence and prosperity for our people, Chairperson Kelly said.

Gandangara LALC CEO Melissa Williams said they were pleased with the outcome and will start “consultation to work through the best interests of all members of the community’’, Dr Williams said.