NSWALC Lodges Historic 50,000th Land Claim
31 October, 2019
31 October 2019
NSWALC Lodges Historic 50,000th Land Claim
The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council has notched a major milestone by lodging its 50,000th Land Claim.
The historic lodgement referred to a parcel of land in the Wiradjuri region, 42 years after NSWALC's formation in 1977.
It continues a track record across more than four decades of NSWALC advocating on behalf of all Aboriginal people in New South Wales.
"This is a significant achievement not just for NSWALC but for all Aboriginal people in New South Wales," NSWALC CEO James Christian said.
"NSWALC is an organisation with a remit to campaign for land rights and give our people confidence that the legacy of their family will not be forgotten. This is a moment that should give our members confidence that NSWALC is getting in and doing its job."
Since 1983, NSWALC has lodged on average 1,348 claims per year. That average has climbed to 2,714 per annum over the past three years.
Last year, NSWALC lodged 3,232 claims - accounting for 6% of all claims lodged since 1983. NSWALC is on track to exceed that in 2019.
Over the past 10 years, NSWALC has lodged more than 31,000 claims - which is 62% of all claims lodged since the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NSW) was introduced in 1983.
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*Image - Parramatta Gaol, returned to Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council in 2015