Patrick Gorman (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

In summing up this debate, I want to thank members for their contributions on the proposed Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment (Scheduling) Bill 2024. As has been highlighted, this bill adds an area of land to schedule 1 of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, the land rights act. This enables the grant of land to an Aboriginal land trust and finalisation of the Wakaya Alyawarre (Repeat) Land Claim. The land in question comprises approximately 484,000 hectares near Canteen Creek community in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory. It is approximately 275 kilometres south-east of Tennant Creek.

I want to acknowledge the contributions of the member for Gippsland, who noted that this provides certainty to the Northern Territory government and that they have provided their support. I also want to thank members of the coalition for their support on this bill and to note, as the member for Gippsland just did—in his words—that this brings both economic and social benefits to the communities affected. It is also consistent with our commitments, which have been endorsed in this place, to Closing the Gap and with our commitments and obligations under that partnership.

I want to thank my friend the member for Moreton for his contribution noting that this is about ownership and control.

See this speech in context