Aboriginal Land Rights Act

The Aboriginal Land Rights Act was signed by the Govenor-General of Australia 16 December, 1976. The Act established the basis upon which Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory could claim rights to land based on traditional occupation. This Act was the first Australian law which allowed a claim of title if claimants could provide evidence of their traditional association with land.

Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth) background

There are four land councils established under the Act, they are the:

• Central Land Council is in the southern half of the Northern Territory
• Northern Land Council covering the Top End
• Tiwi Land Council covering Bathurst and Melville Islands north of Darwin
• Anindilyakawa Land Council covering Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

See also: Aboriginal Land Rights Act, 1976, Australia, Australian Aborigine, Bathurst Island, Central Land Council, Darwin, Groote Eylandt, Gulf of Carpentaria