MCA Submission on Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Amendment Bill 2021

The MCA welcomes the opportunity to support the passage through the Senate of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment (Economic Empowerment) Bill 2021.

The Bill will simplify administrative processes and support Traditional Owner engagement to enable more efficient and effective management, including important economic development, of Aboriginal freehold lands in the Northern Territory. Measures to simplify minerals licencing administrative processes will not change or affect Aboriginal landholder controls regarding proposals on their lands.

This will help bring forward investment in a way that supports Traditional Owner priorities and priorities.

Mining is the Territory’s largest employer. In 2018-19 the minerals industry contributed $6.6 billion in economic value to the Territory and accounted for 24 per cent of Gross State Product.