Call to extend consultation over NSW land Bill
The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) has called on the NSW Government to extend its consultation window regarding the Crown Lands Management Amendment Bill to allow for greater consultation with the wider NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Network.
The call follow NSWALC’s review of the proposed amendments, which were only delivered by Minister Steve Kamper on June 19. The NSWALC Council has requested an extension of the consultation period from the NSW Government to 31 July 2026.
NSWALC Chairperson Dr Raymond Kelly said NSWALC and the wider Land Rights Network need more time to consult on the proposed amendments before any action is taken.
“We have worked tirelessly over the past week to carefully consider the NSW Government’s proposed amendments and, with the support of the Land Rights Network, remain firm on our position… that without more time to consult, the NSW Government are acting to the detriment of Aboriginal people of NSW,” Dr Kelly said.
NSWALC Chairperson Dr Raymond Kelly.
“It is clear that more time is needed for us to properly connect with the Network. There are 121 Local Aboriginal Land Councils and more than 30,000 members across the State. We want to make sure they have adequate time to consider the implications of the amendments”
There are amendments included in the draft that still reflect the serious concerns raised by NSWALC and the NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Network.
Deputy Chair Leeanne Hampton, Councillor for the Wiradjuri Region, said the Bill, if passed in its current form, would weaken Aboriginal Land Rights in the State.
Amendments called for
“The Network has been strong in their continued advocacy, unity and mobilisation against the Bill. The way the NSW Government introduced this Bill and the proposed amendments was not done in good faith, and we’re pushing for that to change,” she said.
“Any decisions to validate or alter Crown land affecting Aboriginal land claims needs meaningful consultation with Aboriginal Land Councils, and with full transparency.”
NSWALC calls on the Government to make further amendments to the Bill. These include:
- That any decisions made to validate or change a Crown land holding that may affect Aboriginal land claims can only be made with the concurrence (agreement) of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.
- Where there is an undetermined land claim and before exercising powers to validate or change a Crown land holding, that the Minister must consider whether a community facility, service or activity is already protected through existing laws, planning controls or zoning and whether there are other ways to protect a community facility, service or activity without affecting an Aboriginal land claim.
- That Aboriginal Land Councils must receive all relevant information during consultation, including copies of any lease or licence and details of the claimed community benefit.
- That consultation periods must be a minimum of 28 days and not be reduced in regulations.
- That any land that is validated because it provides a community benefit must remain restricted to that purpose. That decisions to validate Crown land holdings must be made by the Minister and not delegated to another person.
