David Coleman (Banks, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention) Share this | Hansard source

I thank members for their contributions to the debate on the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment (Economic Empowerment) Bill 2021. It's a great privilege to provide the summing up of this historic bill to amend the Northern Territory land rights act to empower Aboriginal people to maximise the economic future of their families and communities for generations to come. I remind the House that this bill was introduced just two days after the 55th anniversary of the Gurindji walk-off, an event now woven into the fabric of this nation. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the late Mr Wavehill, Mudburra elder, father, educator, artist and activist, who passed away on the same day this bill was introduced to parliament. Mr Wavehill stood with Mr Lingiari and many others during the walk-off to demand the return of his land. Their seven-year struggle paved the way for land rights in the Northern Territory.

The passing of the iconic land rights act in 1976 was a great moment of bipartisanship in our parliament, and I am pleased that this spirit of bipartisanship remains as we look beyond party politics to recognise the intrinsic value of these amendments. The centrepiece of the reforms is the establishment of the new Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation, an Aboriginal controlled body that will be able to use funds derived from the ABA to strategically and proactively seize and generate economic and social investment opportunities. The new corporation will invest in projects that will grow wealth, create jobs and support sustainable Aboriginal economies in the Northern Territory for the long term. For the first time, decisions about investments and beneficial payments will shift from Canberra to the Northern Territory and from government to Aboriginal leaders.

In addition to these momentous changes, this bill also enables other mechanisms for activating the potential of Aboriginal land. Current processes relating to exploration and mining under the land rights act can be unnecessarily time-consuming and costly for all stakeholders. The amendments have been developed after extensive consultations with peak industry bodies, the land councils and the Northern Territory government. I'm confident they will streamline exploration and mining processes to create clarity and build the confidence of investors. Importantly, the rights of traditional owners, including for protected sacred sites, are maintained.

Finally, there is a package of land administration amendments which strengthen Aboriginal control over decision-making, address operational gaps and remove unused provisions in the act. Of most significance here are the reforms which support and standardise the community controlled township leasing model in the land rights act and provide for greater local decision-making on Aboriginal land to deliver housing, business and government services outcomes that meet the needs of the local community. Aboriginal Territorians have asked for these changes through their land councils, and the reforms have been co-designed in partnership over the last 3½ years.

This is an important day for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, as they see their ideas to modernise the land rights act take the next big step to becoming a reality. This is an important day for Aboriginal families, communities and businesses in the Northern Territory, as they see this commitment to grow Aboriginal enterprise and jobs and improve the intergenerational transfer of wealth for Aboriginal families and communities. It is an important day for the parliament, as we seize this opportunity to support the most far-reaching changes to the land rights act since it was enacted in 1976.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Message from the Governor-General recommending appropriation announced.

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