Historic changes to Land Rights Act put investment decisions into the hands of aboriginal Territorians

NT CLP senator Sam ­McMahon says the setting up of a new Aboriginal-controlled corporate Commonwealth entity, funded from the Aboriginal Benefit Account, will be ­generational changing.

Barunga. Historic Land Right Act reforms were announced by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack. FACEBOOK

THE setting up of a new Aboriginal-controlled corporate Commonwealth entity, funded from the Aboriginal Benefit Account (ABA), will be ­generational changing and put business investment decisions into the hands of Aboriginal people rather than Canberra, NT CLP senator Sam ­McMahon says.

A package of reforms to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (ALRA), which was co-designed with the Northern Territory land councils and the federal government, was released at Barunga on the weekend.

Senator McMahon says the package of reforms are the most substantial since ALRA came into effect and will modernise the ALRA so it can support contemporary Aboriginal and Territory economic and social development aspirations.

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Under the reforms the new Commonwealth entity will have the power to decide on and administer Indigenous grants and investments in the Northern Territory.

Senator McMahon said the significance of the new Commonwealth ­entity could not be understated.

She said the new body would use ABA funding to seize opportunities to invest in large-scale, strategic business initiatives and determine the priorities for the NT with benefits for Aboriginal Territorians creating pathways for jobs and wealth creation.

She pointed to potential business projects such as agriculture and tourism projects.

The ABD funding will be in addition to continuing to make the smaller grant payments available to support local communities and organisations.

“One of the exciting things for me about all of this is the proposal to be able to turn communities into town leases,” Senator McMahon said.

“This will be a genuine pathway to home ownership for Indigenous people. The aspiration of achieving home ownership is something the non-Indigenous take for granted.

“It would be unthinkable if government legislation stopped urban dwellers from fulfilling that type of dream. But that is exactly what those in ­remote and regional Indigenous ­communities have had to face.”

NLC chair Sammy Bush-Blanasi (right) with Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack at the Barunga celebration near Katherine at the weekend where historic Land Right Act reforms were announced. Picture: FACEBOOK

Senator McMahon said township leasing had been successfully achieved with the Gumatj at Gunyangara in Arnhem Land and at Mirarr at Jabiru.

“This means more communities will be able to follow the leadership to drive local economic priorities through a township lease including subdividing blocks which are eventually sold to members of the Indigenous community leading to genuine home ownership,” she said. “Banks will lend against a lease of this type.”

Senator McMahon said other key reforms to the ALRA included business certainty on Aboriginal land by streamlining arrangements for exploration and mining licences, without lessening the controls of Traditional Owners.

“The arrangements for exploration and mining on Aboriginal land will be streamlined,” she said.

“Key steps will be simplified, potentially saving up to two years in some cases, allowing for giving greater ­certainty to the resource sector and Traditional Owners.

“All these reforms protect the interests of Traditional Owners, including their right to free, prior and informed consent through the veto power in relation to mining exploration on their land.

Barunga. Historic Land Right Act reforms were announced by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack. Picture: FACEBOOK

For more than three decades I have seen the impacts of legislative and administrative policies which hamstrung opportunities in the Territory for the Indigenous and that is why last weekend’s announcement by Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt on changes to the Aboriginal Land Rights Act to activate the potential of Indigenous land in the NT should be warmly welcomed by all sides of politics.

“Under the reforms the Northern Territory members of ABA authority will set the agenda and determine the funding priorities.

“The reforms will empower Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory to maximise the economic future of their families and communities for generations to come using funds from the $1.2bn Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA),” Senator McMahon said.

“The ABA receives mining royalties generated from Aboriginal land in the Territory and has grown substantially to more than $1.2bn today. These funds are not taxpayer money

“The Northern Territory’s full potential can only be achieved when we can activate the remaining 50 per cent of the land mass in a constructive sustainable way.

“What the Coalition, Minister Wyatt and the land councils have managed to do is find that way forward. I will be doing all I can to assist Minister Wyatt get the required amendments through parliament.”