Central Land Council
in this section
CLC Press Releases
- 28 October 2008
- Devils Marbles handed back to traditional owners ›› more
- 27 October 2008
- Tanami Regional Partnership Agreement ›› more
- 27 October 2008
- Warlpiri use royalties to build Yuendumu Pool ›› more
- 15 October 2008
- Minister looks for distraction ›› more
- 14 October 2008
- CLC response to NTER review ›› more
- 14 August 2008 2008
- Communities have their say on intervention ›› more
- 31 July 2008 2008
- Fairfax news in bad taste ›› more
- 24 July 2008 2008
- election: accountability needed ›› more
- 17 July 2008 2008
- Royal commission needed into NT funding ›› more
- 11 July 2008 2008
- Simpson Desert: the last land rights claim under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act ›› more
- 8 July 2008 2008
- Sacred site damage at Wilora ›› more
- 30 May 2008
- Seal the Mereenie Loop Road Now ›› more
- 27 May 2008
- Angela Pamela Negotiations ›› more
- 9 May 2008
- Angela Pamela and the native title process ›› more
- 18 February 2008
- Coalition should support permit system ›› more
- 15 February 2008
- Politicians threaten to derail fresh start ›› more
- 22 January 2008
- Police ignorance upsets Lajamanu community ›› more
- 26 November 2007
- Optimism for a fresh consensual approach on Aboriginal affairs ›› more
- 21 November 2007
- Concerns over Central Petroleum tactics ›› more
The Land is Always Alive
Land Council Responsibilities
Although the CLC was already up and running in 1977, the passing of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act gave the Council new statutory powers and responsibilities, which are set out in section 23 of the Act:
- find out and express the opinions of Aboriginal people on the management of Aboriginal land in the CLC region;
- protect the interests of Aboriginal people in the Land Council area;
- assist Aboriginal people to take measures to protect sacred sites on all land in the Land Council area;
- consult traditional landowners about any proposal to use Aboriginal land (e.g. mineral exploration, mining, pastoral activity, tourism etc.);
- negotiate on behalf of traditional Aboriginal owners with people (e.g. mining companies, pastoralists, land developers etc.) who want to use Aboriginal land or land under claim;
- assist Aboriginal people in making land claims, particularly by arranging and paying for legal assistance for claimants;
- keep a register of Land Council members and members of Land Trusts (Aboriginal land-holding bodies) in the Land Council area; and
- provide administrative support and assistance for Aboriginal Land Trusts in the CLC area.
The CLC also has statutory responsibilities to:
- attempt to conciliate any dispute between Aboriginal people over land matters;
- hold in trust and distribute to Aboriginal associations payments from the Aboriginals Benefits Trust Account and income earned under negotiated agreements;
- process applications for permits to enter Aboriginal land; and
- assist Aboriginal people in native title claims and negotiations.