NT Aboriginal land councils accuse NT government of racist policy, call for spending audit

The NT’s four Aboriginal land councils have accused the CLP government of ‘racist’ policies and sidelining Indigenous authority, in one of the most sweeping political displays by the group in recent memory.

The four NT Aboriginal land councils gathered at the steps of Parliament House in Darwin on July 24, 2025, to call on the CLP government to work in partnership when making decisions about Aboriginal Territorians. Picture: Fia Walsh.

The Northern Territory’s four Aboriginal land councils have accused the Country Liberal government of ‘racist’ policies and sidelining Indigenous authority, in one of the most sweeping political displays by the group in recent memory.

The land councils also called for the Federal Government to audit Territory government spending on Aboriginal affairs, claiming the NT government was profiting from the disadvantage of impoverished communities.

Executives of the Northern, Central, Tiwi and Anindilyakwa land councils met in Darwin this week for the first time since 2020, standing before Parliament House on Thursday morning to deliver their message.

TLC chair Leslie Tungatalum, NLC chair Matthew Ryan, ALC chair Cherelle Wurrawilya and CLC deputy chair Barbara Shaw. The four NT Aboriginal land councils gathered at the steps of Parliament House in Darwin on July 24, 2025, to call on the CLP government to work in partnership when making decisions about Aboriginal Territorians. Picture: Fia Walsh.

“The view that we have from all land councils is: pathetic,” NLC chair Matthew Ryan said.

“High numbers of incarcerations, (no) opportunities of economic development – it’s a big failure of the government.

“We’ve had enough, we want to be heard.”

The CLP government returned an almost 600 word response to the accusations, detailing several key initiatives on which they were collaborating with the land councils and other Aboriginal organisations.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington said the CLP government was “committed to continuing engagement and consultation with community members and wider stakeholders in regional and remote areas across the Territory”.

The government did not respond to specific questions about whether the apparent relationship breakdown posed governance issues – considering the land councils control more than half the landmass and 85 per cent of the coastline, and represent more than a third of the Territory population.

The land councils’ criticism of the government was broad – when asked which CLP government policies he did not like Mr Ryan said “all of them”; canvassing housing, health, education, sidelined local decision making agreements, limited economic opportunities and regressive justice outcomes.

“Federal funding for our people props up the NT’s budget. The Australian government needs to hold the NT government accountable and make sure its laws and policies match the intent of that funding – to help our communities,” Mr Ryan said.

He said structural racism existed in “all organisations”, but also overt racism was at play in current CLP government policy: “no buts about it”.

CLC deputy chair Barbara Shaw. Picture: Fia Walsh.

Central Land Council deputy chair Barbara Shaw said working in partnership to bring down rates of Indigenous incarceration was a human rights issue.

“The CLP always gets in on law and order, but us Aboriginal people, we’re the most incarcerated people in the Northern Territory,” she said.

“It’s so disgusting that this government is not listening to our elders, to take our children back out onto country and be with families. We are working on developing bail conditions for our men, women and children.

“If the government would only listen to us and work with us in genuine partnership in tackling crime in the Northern Territory, we wouldn’t be stacking and racking in our prisons – because that’s where all your tax money is going.”

The land councils called for an independent police misconduct body and the publication of an implementation plan based on the recommendations of the Kumanjayi Walker inquest.

They also wanted to be involved in co-designing the terms of reference of an independent inquiry into structural racism in the NT Police Force, alongside other Aboriginal organisations.

NT police is currently undertaking an internal racism review, led by Leanne Liddle.

NT Aboriginal Affairs Minister Steve Edgington. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Minister Edgington said the CLP government is working hard to reduce crime, rebuild the economy and restore the Territory lifestyle after a previous Labor government scrapped community government councils and community leadership structures on 1 July 2008.

“Labor also scrapped the NT Law and Justice strategy back in 2005,” he said.

Restoring more local councils is a key pillar of the CLP government’s strategy to empower regional and remote communities – Mr Edgington highlighted the establishment of the Groote Archipelago Regional Council earlier this year.

“We are working in partnership with Aboriginal people to empower communities that want a greater say,” he said.

“This is creating opportunities for local community members to lead and contribute and enable them to have a more active role in community development and decision-making processes.

“Recently, I was talking with representatives of the Tiwi Land Council about restoring control of communities to Aboriginal people, strengthening service delivery and fostering self-determination.”

Mr Edgington said under the CLP government’s five-point economic strategy for the Northern Territory, one of the five key priorities includes unlocking regional growth and strengthening partnerships with Aboriginal Territorians.

“In addition, we are committed to backing the development of the Beetaloo and creating the economic opportunities that come with it: more jobs for Territorians, stronger regional communities, and long-term royalty revenue that will help fund essential services and infrastructure,” he said.

Mr Edgington said the NT government was working together with Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT – whose members include the land councils – on closing the gap initiatives.

He also pointed to remote housing and homelands funds, the Circuit Breaker Program, truancy officers, and a record investment to combat domestic violence.

Originally published as NT Aboriginal land councils accuse NT government of racist policy, call for spending audit