Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 2017 Statutory Review

8 June, 2017

Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983  2017 Statutory Review

8 June 2017

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs is undertaking a five-year statutory review of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (ALRA), in accordance with section 252A of the Act.

A report on the outcome of the review is due to be tabled in each House of Parliament by 4 December 2017.

Nine forums will be held across New South Wales over the next three months.

SCOPE OF THE REVIE

As per section 252A of the ALRA, the Minister is to review the Act to determine whether the policy objectives of the Act remain valid and whether the terms of the Act remain appropriate for securing those objectives.

The focus of the consultation that will inform this Statutory Review of the ALRA is to:

  1. Encourage thought, generate ideas and put forward proposals for the Minister's consideration about the future role, operation and status of the land council network and of the ALRA in NSW. 
  2. Inquire into and seek views about whether the governance, structural, regulatory and administrative arrangements of the ALRA support the aspirations of the NSW Aboriginal community.
  3. Ensure that discussion and any proposals from the review take into account any current and emerging reforms which might impact on the operations of the ALRA, in particular the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage reforms.

FORUMS 

The statutory review of the ALRA will be informed by nine forums to be held across NSW in each of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) regions from mid-June to August 2017. The forums will be held at:

  • Broken Hill - Wednesday 28 June at Broken Hill Demo Club
  • Wagga Wagga - Wednesday 19 July at Wagga Wagga RSL                                       
  • Dubbo - Tuesday 25 July at Dubbo Zoo
  • Lightning Ridge - Wednesday 26 July at Lightning Ridge Bowling Club
  • Tamworth - Tuesday 1 August at IBIS Towers
  • Kempsey - Wednesday 9 August (venue to be confirmed)
  • Lismore - Wednesday 16 August at Goonellabah Sports Club
  • Sydney - Wednesday 23 August at Rooty Hill Novotel
  • Batemans Bay - Wednesday 30 August at Coachhouse

The forums will be developed and hosted in collaboration with NSWALC and will include invited representatives of Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) and other Aboriginal community representatives.  The forums will discuss the ALRA's operation and the future opportunities it presents for the Aboriginal peoples of NSW, as well as identifying strategic, collaborative and innovative proposals to realise those opportunities.

NSWALC will keep the network informed on developments and the forums. If LALCs wish to discuss the review please call Aboriginal Affairs NSW (Tara Egan 02 9561 1262 and Daniel Lutton 02 9561 1210).

Acknowledgement

We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of the lands where we work as well as across the lands we travel through. We also acknowledge our Elders past, present and emerging.

Artwork Credit: Craig Cromelin, from a painting he did titled, "4 favourite fishing holes". It is a snippet of his growing years on the Lachlan River, featuring yabby, turtle, fish and family.

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