Indigenous affairsStatutory authorityExists today
Northern Land Council
NLC
26 January 1977 – present
Statutory land council representing Aboriginal people of the Top End of the Northern Territory, which pursues land claims, consults traditional owners about the use of Aboriginal land and sea country and negotiates agreements on mining and development.
How it came into existence
Established under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 on its commencement on 26 January 1977, giving statutory form to an interim Northern Land Council formed in 1973 during the Aboriginal Land Rights Commission.
Legislation: Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976
Changes during its life
- 18 September 2013Moved from the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs portfolio to the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio.
- Land council functions for the Tiwi Islands
- Land council functions for Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island
Main functions
- Representation of traditional owners
- Land claims and native title
- Consultation and consent on land use and mining
- Negotiation of agreements
- Sea country and ranger programs
- Distribution of royalty and lease payments
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
- Type of body
- Corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Accountable authority
- The group of persons made up of: (a) the Chair of the Land Council; and (b) the Chief Executive Officer of the Land Council. – Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014 section 7A item 3
- ABN
- 56 327 515 336
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))