1 February 2023
NSWALC has prepared a brief Guide for Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) outlining key changes to the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) (ALRA) made by the Aboriginal Land Rights Amendment Bill 2022 (Bill).…
NSWALC welcomes businesses giving workers a choice on January 26 public holiday
26 January 2023
The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) welcomes and supports a growing number of employers giving their employees the choice of working on the gazetted January 26 public holiday.
Before Christmas, NSWALC CEO Yuseph Deen wrote to major ASX companies asking them to consider giving their employees the choice of working on the January 26 public holiday, and instead taking the time off later at a mutually agreeable time.…
NSWALC Annual Report Now Available Online
20 January 2023
The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) is pleased to inform the Land Rights Network that the NSWALC Annual Report 2021-2022 is now available online (see below).
The NSWALC Annual Report was presented by The Hon. Ben Franklin MLC, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs to the NSW Parliament on 21 December 2022.…
Looking back on 2022
23 December 2022
The NSW Aboriginal Land Council thanks the Land Rights Network for another successful year, as we worked together to support and uplift our communities across a challenging 2022.
The NSWALC would like to reflect on some achievements across the year, where we continued our advocacy for the interests and rights of Aboriginal people in NSW; supported the Network in strengthening partnerships and connecting with economic, business and employment opportunities; and continued our work as a lead organisation in numerous reforms and implementing the National Agreement on Closing the Gap in NSW.…
Planning law reforms to provide increased options for LALCs
20 December 2022
In 2019 the State Environmental Planning Policy (Aboriginal Land) 2019 (Aboriginal Land SEPP) came into effect.
The 2019 Aboriginal Land SEPP:
- Enabled the making of Development Delivery Plans (DDPs) for land owned by LALCs and identified the process for approving and amending DDPs, including approval by the Minister;
- Required a consent authority to consider a DDP when assessing a development application made by a LALC;
- Declared certain development on land owned by a LALC ‘regionally significant’ so that planning decisions were made by the relevant regional planning panel rather than the local council.
Best Wishes to the Land Rights Network and NSWALC closedown
12 December 2022
NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) would like to wish all Local Aboriginal Land Council Members, Boards and Staff a happy, healthy and safe holiday break with your families and loved ones.
2022 has been another challenging year as we navigated the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and serious flood issues across the state.…
Aboriginal Land Rights Amendment Bill 2022
25 November 2022
The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) would like to inform the Land Rights Network that further to the 9 November 2022 Network Message, the Aboriginal Land Rights Amendment Bill 2022 (the Bill) has now passed the NSW Parliament.…
NSW Reconstruction Authority to be created
24 November 2022
The Reconstruction Authority Bill 2022 passed NSW Parliament on 17 November 2022.
The Bill will establish an NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) and is modelled on a similar agency established in Queensland 11 years ago. The Bill is the NSW Government’s response to a key recommendation of the NSW Flood Inquiry held earlier this year.…
Sorry Business – Passing of Aunt Maureen O’Donnell
11 November 2022
NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) and the Land Rights network mourn the passing of Wilyakali Elder Maureen O’Donnell.
Maureen spent her life campaigning for social justice for Aboriginal people and was deeply involved in her community.…
Collarenebri’s Community Spirit in Flood Crisis
11 November 2022
The roar of the helicopter overhead echoes across town as it prepares to land near Collarenebri Central School, laden with essential supplies for a community isolated by floodwaters.
Collarenebri’s a small town on the Barwon River northeast of Walgett, and like many other parts of NSW is continuing to deal with rising floodwaters in what’s known as “Blue Sky Floods”.…