Changes to NT Land Rights Act announced
The Federal Government has announced changes to the NT Land Rights Act that significantly impact on traditionally held lands. Aboriginal communities in the Territory will be able to give long-term leases on their land and could even lease an entire town area to the NT Government if they wished. Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Amanda Vastone says the changes will help Indigenous people get greater economic benefit from their land. But critics of the amendments say Aboriginal people haven’t been properly consulted about whether they actually want this so-called “benefit”. The National Indigenous Council has thrown its support behind the plans, but former chair of the Cairns ATSIC Regional Council Terry O’Shane says the opinions of the NIC are being wrongly seen as the opinions of all Aboriginal people.