Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "NT Government Seeks Changes to Land Rights Act" [1981] AboriginalLawB 15; (1981) 1(1) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 10

• Nt Government Seeks Changes To Land Rights Act

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NT Government Seeks Changes to Land Rights Act

The Northern Territory Government has asked the Federal Government to make substantial amendments to the Land Rights (NT) Act 1976. A submission to the Federal Government criticised the Aboriginal Land Commissioner, Justice Toohey, and legal advisers to Aboriginal communities. Some of the major proposed changes are:-

• prevention of further applications to convert currently held leases to freehold title;
• a cut off date for land claims;
• exemption from the Act of land set aside by NT Government for public purposes; and
• assistance to mining interests in the Gove Peninsula and the Jabiluka area.

The central Land Council responded to these proposals with a full-page advertisement in the National Times of 28 June, 1981. People wishing to lend support were urged to write to:

Central Land Council
PO Box 1960
Alice Springs; or

Aboriginal Land Rights Support Group
PO Box M248
Redfern Mail Exchange