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Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976
No. 191, 1976
In force
Administered by
Attorney-General's Department
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
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C2025C00543 C16
12 December 1991
-
17 December 1991
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Part I—Preliminary
1 Short title
2 Commencement
3 Interpretation
3A Crown land vested in Northern Territory
3B Act binds the Crown
3C Act has effect despite Lands Acquisition Act
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Part II—Grants of land to Aboriginal Land Trusts
4 Land Trusts
5 Functions of Land Trusts
6 Land Trust not empowered to accept moneys
7 Membership of Land Trust
8 Termination of appointment of members of Land Trusts
9 Resignation of member of Land Trust
10 Recommendations for grants of Crown land described in Schedule 1
11 Recommendations for grants of Crown land, other than that described in Schedule 1
11A Land Councils may enter into agreements concerning land under claim
12 Grants of land to Land Trusts
12AAA Additional grant to Tiwi Land Trust
12AA Agreements with respect to roads on land described in Schedule 1
12AB Declaratory orders with respect to roads on land described in Schedule 1
12AC Effect of agreement or order
12AD Compensation for loss of licences, &c.
12A Occupation of land by Director
12B Arbitration on agreement between Land Council and Director
12C Minister may grant lease in certain circumstances
13 Grants of interests in land the subject of a deed in escrow
14 Occupation, &c., by the Crown, &c., of Aboriginal land vested in Land Trust
15 Payments to Land Council in respect of occupation of land by the Crown, &c.
16 Payments to Land Council by the Crown in respect of interests in Aboriginal land
17 Appropriation, &c., of payments to Land Council
18 Occupation or use of Aboriginal land by mission
18A Occupation or use of land in Ranger Project Area
18B Occupation or use of land in Alligator Rivers Region, other than the Ranger Project Area
18C Section 18A or 18B not to authorize mining, &c.
19 Dealings, &c., with interests in land by Land Trusts
20 Leases in compliance with obligations of the Commonwealth
20A Northern Territory transfer of land law to apply
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Part III—Aboriginal Land Councils
21 Establishment of Land Councils
22 Land Council to be body corporate, &c.
23 Functions of Land Council
23A Power of Land Council to obtain information and documents
23B Application to Supreme Court for order with respect to information or documents
23C A person authorized by Land Council to have access to buildings and places in Region
23D Application to Supreme Court for order with respect to access
23E Secrecy
24 Register of traditional Aboriginal owners
25 Duty of Land Council to attempt conciliation of disputes
26 Land Council to meet expenses, &c, of Land Trust
27 Powers of Land Council
28 Delegation
29 Membership of Land Council
29A Committees
30 Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Land Council
31 Meetings of Land Council
32 Bank accounts
33 Borrowing by Land Council
34 Estimates of expenditure by Land Council
35 Application of money of Land Council
35A Incorporated communities or groups to lodge financial records with Land Councils
36 Other payments to be approved by Minister
37 Financial records to be kept
37AA Interim financial reports
37A Annual reports by Land Councils
38 Audit of financial records
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Part IV—Mining
40 Grants of exploration licences
41 Application for consent to exploration licences
42 Response of Land Council and Minister to application
43 National interest cases
44 Determination of conditions of exploration licences
44A Terms and conditions of exploration licences
45 Mining interest not to be granted in certain circumstances
46 Terms and conditions to which grant of mining interest subject
47 Vitiation of consent
48 No further applications within certain periods
48A Land Council may enter agreement concerning exploration or mining of land subject to claim
48AA Special provisions relating to specified areas
48B Variation of terms and conditions
48C Application of Acts authorising mining on Aboriginal land
48D Payments in respect of mining under Acts
48E Arbitration on required agreement
48F Appointment as Mining Commissioner
48G Proclamations to be laid before Parliament
48H Agreements for entry on Aboriginal land
48J Offence in connection with mining interest
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Part V—Aboriginal Land Commissioners
49 Aboriginal Land Commissioner
50 Functions of Commissioner
51 Powers of Commissioner
52 Appointment of Commissioner
53 Judge to be appointed as Commissioner
53A Protection for Commissioner, &c.
54 Power to require person to answer questions and produce documents
54A Person wishing to give information, &c., to Commissioner
54AA Commissioner may restrict publication, &c.
54B Person not to furnish false information, &c.
54C Financial assistance in respect of legal representation
54D Reference of question of law to Federal Court
55 Interests of Commissioner in any business
56 Leave of absence
57 Acting appointments
58 Resignation
59 Staff to assist Commissioner
60 Consultants to Commissioner
61 Annual report, &c., by Commissioner
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Part VI—Aboriginals Benefit Trust Account
62 Aboriginals Benefit Trust Account
62A Repeal of section 21 of Northern Territory (Administration) Act and consequent provision
63 Payments into Trust Account
64 Payments out of Trust Account
64A Transfer of amounts from Trust Account to Consolidated Revenue Fund in certain circumstances
64B Accounts, financial statements and annual report
65 Trust Account Advisory Committee
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Part VII—Miscellaneous
66 Interpretation
67 Aboriginal land not to be resumed, &c.
67A Estates or interests not to be granted while land subject to traditional land claim
68 Roads over Aboriginal land
69 Sacred sites
70 Entry, &c., on Aboriginal land
71 Traditional rights to use or occupation of Aboriginal land
72 Aboriginal land to continue to be reserve under Northern Territory law
73 Reciprocal legislation of the Northern Territory
74 Application of laws of Northern Territory to Aboriginal land
74A Financial assistance in respect of legal representation in closure of seas applications
75 Application of miner’s right in relation to Aboriginal land
76 Delegation by Minister
77 Remuneration and allowances
77A Consents of traditional Aboriginal owners
77B Conduct by director, servants or agents
77C Amendment of Schedule 1
78 Regulations
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Schedule 1
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Schedule 2
Schedule 3
Schedule 4
Schedule 5
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Endnotes
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history