Ken Wyatt (Hasluck, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present a supplementary explanatory memorandum to the bill, and I ask leave of the House to move government amendments (1) to (11), as circulated, together.

Leave granted.

I move:

(1) Schedule 1, page 3 (line 2), after the Schedule heading, insert:

Part 1—Amendments

(2) Schedule 1, page 6 (after line 2), after item 17, insert:

17A After section 21D

  Insert:

21E Variation of boundaries

Request

(1) Two Land Councils may, by joint written notice given to the Minister, request the Minister to vary the boundaries of the areas of the Councils, so that a specified area:

  (a) ceases to be part of the area of one of those Councils; and

  (b) becomes part of the area of the other Council.

(2) A Land Council must not make a request under subsection (1) unless the Council is satisfied that:

  (a) the traditional Aboriginal owners (if any) of the land in the specified area understand the nature and purpose of the proposed variation and, as a group, consent to it; and

  (b) any Aboriginal community or group that may be affected by the proposed variation has been consulted and has had adequate opportunity to express its view to the Council.

Variation

(3) If the Minister receives a request under subsection (1), the Minister may, by writing, vary the boundaries of the areas of the Land Councils in accordance with the request.

Publication

(4) The Minister must publish an instrument under subsection (3) in the Gazette.

Notice not a legislative instrument

(5) An instrument under subsection (3) is not a legislative instrument.

(3) Schedule 1, page 6, after proposed item 17A, insert:

17B After paragraph 28(1)(c)

  Insert:

     (ca) the making of a request under section 21E;

17C Before paragraph 28(2)(a)

  Insert:

     (aa) the making of a request under section 21E;

(4) Schedule 1, page 6, after proposed item 17C, insert:

17D At the end of paragraph 28(3)(b)

  Add ", except subsection (4) of that section".

17E At the end of subsection 28(3)

  Add:

  ; (e) section 68 (about roads over Aboriginal land);

     (f) subsection 70(4) (about access agreements);

and the Council may also delegate to the corporation the Council's other functions and powers, so far as they are associated with the performance of a function, or the exercise of a power, that is:

     (g) conferred by a provision mentioned in any of the above paragraphs; and

     (h) covered by the delegation.

(5) Schedule 1, page 6, after proposed item 17E, insert:

17F Paragraph 28A(2)(b)

  After "Council", insert "(the relevant part)".

17G After paragraph 28A(2)(b)

  Insert:

     (ba) set out the names of the corporation's members; and

     (bb) set out evidence that a majority of the members of the corporation are either:

        (i) the traditional Aboriginal owners of land in the relevant part; or

        (ii) Aboriginals who live in the relevant part; and

     (bc) set out the reason the corporation seeks the delegation; and

     (bd) set out the reason the corporation selected the relevant part; and

     (be) set out a description of any consultation by the corporation with the following persons in relation to the delegation:

        (i) traditional Aboriginal owners of land in the relevant part;

        (ii) any other Aboriginal community or group that may be affected by the delegation; and

     (bf) set out a description of any conflict of interest arrangements the corporation has in place; and

     (bg) set out the qualifications and experience of:

        (i) the corporation's officers (within the meaning of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006); and

        (ii) the corporation's employees (within the meaning of that Act);

     that are relevant to the delegation; and

     (bh) set out how the corporation proposes to make decisions in relation to the delegated functions or powers, including any proposed ongoing consultation with the persons mentioned in paragraph (be); and

     (bi) set out an estimate of the resources required to perform or exercise the delegated functions or powers; and

     (bj) set out the following breakdown of the resources mentioned in paragraph (bi):

        (i) resources the corporation has at its disposal;

        (ii) resources the corporation proposes to obtain from the Council;

        (iii) resources the corporation proposes to obtain from another source, and the name of that source; and

17H At the end of subsection 28A(2)

  Add:

  ; and (d) be accompanied by:

     (i) a copy of the general report that the corporation has most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006; and

     (ii) a copy of the financial report that the corporation has most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006; and

     (iii) a copy of the directors' report that the corporation has most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006; and

     (iv) if the financial report mentioned in subparagraph (ii) has been audited as required under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006a copy of the auditor's report.

Note: Examples of resources for paragraphs (bi) and (bj) are money, employees, premises and equipment.

17J After subsection 28A(2)

  Insert:

  (2A) The Council must give the Minister a copy of the application.

17K Subsection 28A(4) (note)

  Repeal the note.

17L Subsections 28A(5) and (6)

  Repeal the subsections, substitute:

Time limit

(5) The Council must take all reasonable steps to ensure that a decision is made on the application within:

  (a) 6 months after the day the application was made; or

  (b) if a longer period is agreed in writing by the corporation—that period.

(6) If a longer period is agreed under paragraph (5)(b), the Council must notify the Minister, in writing, of the agreement.

(6) Schedule 1, page 6, after proposed item 17L, insert:

17M Subsections 28B(1) to (3)

  Repeal the subsections, substitute:

(1) If a delegation by a Land Council is in force under subsection 28(3) in relation to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation, the Council may, in writing, vary or revoke the delegation:

  (a) on its own initiative; or

  (b) in accordance with a request or application made by the corporation.

(2) Before varying or revoking a delegation on its own initiative, the Council must consult the corporation concerned.

17N Subsection 28B(4)

  Omit "The corporation may", substitute "If a delegation by a Land Council is in force under subsection 28(3) in relation to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation, the corporation may".

17P After subsection 28B(4)

  Insert:

     (4A) The application must:

        (a) set out the names of the corporation's members; and

        (b) set out evidence that a majority of the members of the corporation are either:

           (i) the traditional Aboriginal owners of land in the part of the area of the Council in respect of which the corporation will, if the variation is made, be able to perform the delegated functions or exercise the delegated powers; or

           (ii) Aboriginals who live in that part; and

        (c) set out the reason the corporation seeks the variation; and

        (d) if the variation is to increase the part of the area of the Council in respect of which the corporation wants to perform functions or exercise powers—set out:

           (i) the areal extent of the increase; and

           (ii) the reason the corporation selected that areal extent; and

        (e) set out a description of any consultation by the corporation with the following persons in relation to the variation:

           (i) traditional Aboriginal owners of land in the part of the area of the Council affected by the variation;

           (ii) any other Aboriginal community or group that may be affected by the variation; and

        (f) set out a description of any conflict of interest arrangements the corporation has in place; and

        (g) set out the qualifications and experience of:

           (i) the corporation's officers (within the meaning of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006); and

           (ii) the corporation's employees (within the meaning of that Act);

        that are relevant to the variation; and

        (h) set out how the corporation proposes to make decisions in relation to the functions or powers covered by the variation, including any proposed ongoing consultation with the persons mentioned in paragraph (e); and

        (i) set out an estimate of the resources required to perform or exercise the functions or powers covered by the variation; and

        (j) set out the following breakdown of the resources mentioned in paragraph (i):

           (i) resources the corporation has at its disposal;

           (ii) resources the corporation proposes to obtain from the Council;

           (iii) resources the corporation proposes to obtain from another source, and the name of that source; and

        (k) contain any other information prescribed by the regulations; and

        (l) be accompanied by:

           (i) a copy of the general report that the corporation has most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006; and

           (ii) a copy of the financial report that the corporation has most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006; and

           (iii) a copy of the directors' report that the corporation has most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006; and

           (iv) if the financial report mentioned in subparagraph (ii) has been audited as required under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006a copy of the auditor's report.

Note: Examples of resources for paragraphs (i) and (j) are money, employees, premises and equipment.

     (4B) The Council may, by writing, exempt the corporation from compliance with any or all of the requirements set out in subsection (4A) in relation to the application.

     (4C) The Council must give the Minister a copy of the application.

17Q Subsection 28B(5) (note)

  Repeal the note.

17R Subsections 28B(6) to (11)

  Repeal the subsections, substitute:

(6) The Council must take all reasonable steps to ensure that a decision is made on the application within:

  (a) 6 months after the day the application was made; or

  (b) if a longer period is agreed in writing by the corporation—that period.

(7) If a longer period is agreed under paragraph (6)(b), the Council must notify the Minister, in writing, of the agreement.

(7) Schedule 1, page 6, after proposed item 17R, insert:

17S Section 28C

  Repeal the section.

(8) Schedule 1, page 6, after proposed item 17S, insert:

17T Section 28D

  Repeal the section.

(9) Schedule 1, page 6, after proposed item 17T, insert:

17U At the end of section 28F

  Add:

     ; and (d) give a written statement of the corporation's reasons for the decision, upon request, to any person or body affected by the decision; and

     (e) if the corporation gives a statement to a person or body under paragraph (d)—give a copy of the statement to the Council.

(10) Schedule 1, page 6 (after line 23), after item 19, insert:

19A Part 4 of Schedule 1 (after the item relating to Urrpantyenye)

  Insert:

  VERNON ISLANDS

All those parcels of land being Northern Territory Portions 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 delineated on Survey Plan S.2015/208 lodged with the Surveyor-General, Darwin, and together containing an area of approximately 8,271.2 hectares.

(11) Schedule 1, page 6 (after line 30), at the end of the Schedule, add:

Part 2—Application and transitional provisions

21 Application of amendments etc.—delegation by Land Council

(1) The amendments of subsection 28A(2) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 made by this Schedule apply to an application made after the commencement of this item.

(2) Subsection 28A(2A) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (as amended by this Act) applies to an application made after the commencement of this item.

(3) If:

  (a) an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation made an application to a Land Council under subsection 28A(1) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 within 12 months before the commencement of this item; and

  (b) the Council had neither:

     (i) made the delegation concerned; nor

     (ii) refused to make the delegation;

     before the commencement of this item;

  then:

  (c) subject to subitems (4) to (8), the corporation must, as soon as practicable after the commencement of this item, give the Council:

     (i) a statement containing the information that would have been required under paragraphs 28A(2)(ba) to (bj) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (as amended by this Act) to have been included in the application if those paragraphs had been in force at the time the application was made; and

     (ii) a copy of the general report that the corporation has most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006; and

     (iii) a copy of the financial report that the corporation has most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006; and

     (iv) a copy of the directors' report that the corporation has most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006; and

     (v) if the financial report mentioned in subparagraph (iii) has been audited as required under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006a copy of the auditor's report; and

(d) subsections 28A(5) and (6) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (as amended by this Act) apply to the application as if the reference in paragraph 28A(5)(a) of that Act to the day the application was made were a reference to:

     (i) the day this item commences; or

     (ii) if the corporation is subject to any requirements under paragraph (c) of this subitem—the day the corporation complies with those requirements.

(4) Subparagraph (3)(c)(i) does not apply to particular information if:

  (a) the application contained the information; or

  (b) after the application was made, but before the commencement of this item, the corporation gave the information to the Land Council.

(5) Subparagraph (3)(c)(ii) does not apply if:

  (a) at the time when the application was made; or

  (b) after the application was made, but before the commencement of this item;

  the corporation gave the Land Council a copy of the general report that the corporation had most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.

(6) Subparagraph (3)(c)(iii) does not apply if:

  (a) at the time when the application was made; or

  (b) after the application was made, but before the commencement of this item;

  the corporation gave the Land Council a copy of the financial report that the corporation had most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.

(7) Subparagraph (3)(c)(iv) does not apply if:

  (a) at the time when the application was made; or

  (b) after the application was made, but before the commencement of this item;

  the corporation gave the Land Council a copy of the directors' report that the corporation had most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.

(8) Subparagraph (3)(c)(v) does not apply if the financial report mentioned in subitem (6) had been audited as required under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006, and:

  (a) at the time when the application was made; or

  (b) after the application was made, but before the commencement of this item;

  the corporation gave the Land Council a copy of the auditor's report.

22 Application of amendments etc.—variation of delegation by Land Council

(1) The amendment of subsection 28B(4) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 made by this Schedule applies to an application made after the commencement of this item.

(2) Subsections 28B(4A), (4B) and (4C) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (as amended by this Act) apply to an application made after the commencement of this item.

(3) If:

  (a) an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation made an application to a Land Council under subsection 28B(4) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 within 12 months before the commencement of this item; and

  (b) the Council had neither:

     (i) varied the delegation concerned; nor

     (ii) refused to vary the delegation;

     before the commencement of this item;

  then:

  (c) subject to subitems (4) to (9), the corporation must, as soon as practicable after the commencement of this item, give the Council:

     (i) a statement containing the information that would have been required under paragraphs 28B(4A)(a) to (j) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (as amended by this Act) to be included in the application if subsection 28B(4A) of that Act had been in force at the time the application was made; and

     (ii) a copy of the general report that the corporation has most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006; and

     (iii) a copy of the financial report that the corporation has most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006; and

     (iv) a copy of the directors' report that the corporation has most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006; and

     (v) if the financial report mentioned in subparagraph (iii) has been audited as required under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006a copy of the auditor's report; and

  (d) subsections 28B(6) and (7) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (as amended by this Act) apply to the application as if the reference in paragraph 28B(6)(a) of that Act to the day the application was made were a reference to:

     (i) the day this item commences; or

     (ii) if the corporation is subject to any requirements under paragraph (c) of this subitem—the day the corporation complies with those requirements.

(4) Subparagraph (3)(c)(i) does not apply to particular information if:

  (a) the application contained the information; or

  (b) after the application was made, but before the commencement of this item, the corporation gave the information to the Land Council.

(5) Subparagraph (3)(c)(ii) does not apply if:

  (a) at the time when the application was made; or

  (b) after the application was made, but before the commencement of this item;

  the corporation gave the Land Council a copy of the general report that the corporation had most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.

(6) Subparagraph (3)(c)(iii) does not apply if:

  (a) at the time when the application was made; or

  (b) after the application was made, but before the commencement of this item;

  the corporation gave the Land Council a copy of the financial report that the corporation had most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.

(7) Subparagraph (3)(c)(iv) does not apply if:

  (a) at the time when the application was made; or

  (b) after the application was made, but before the commencement of this item;

  the corporation gave the Land Council a copy of the directors' report that the corporation had most recently lodged with the Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.

(8) Subparagraph (3)(c)(v) does not apply if the financial report mentioned in subitem (6) had been audited as required under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006, and:

  (a) at the time when the application was made; or

  (b) after the application was made, but before the commencement of this item;

  the corporation gave the Land Council a copy of the auditor's report.

(9) The Land Council may, by writing, exempt the corporation from compliance with any or all of the requirements set out in paragraph (3)(c).

23 Transitional—delegation by Land Council

  Scope

(1) This item applies to an instrument of delegation that:

  (a) was made by a Land Council under subsection 28(3) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976; and

  (b) was in force immediately before the commencement of this item; and

  (c) relates to the Land Council's functions or powers under section 19 of that Act.

  Transitional

(2) The amendment of paragraph 28(3)(b) of that Act made by this Schedule does not affect the continuity of the delegation.

(3) After the commencement of this item, the delegation does not apply to the Land Council's power under subsection 19(4) of that Act.

Warren Snowdon (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for External Territories) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It will come as some surprise to you, but the opposition will be supporting these amendments—which, I might say, I am very pleased to do. And I apologise because in my initial contribution I forgot to recognise the Vernon Islands. The traditional owners of the Vernon Islands would not be happy! So I want to recognise again that the Vernon Islands will be added to schedule 1 of the Land Rights Act. What these amendments will do is allow the land councils to vary their administrative areas. For this to occur, the relevant land councils must request a variation. In this particular instance it is important because it will enable the implementation of agreed settlement arrangements for the Vernon Islands land claim, which required the transfer of the land subject to claim from the jurisdiction of the Northern Land Council to that of the Tiwi Land Council—and that, of itself, is quite important. I commend that particular amendment for its common sense, and I am of the view that the traditional owners will see this as very damn good—and that is a very good thing.

I now want to go briefly to the amendments relating to Mutitjulu. The member for Brand, in his contribution, made a very good speech outlining the economic benefits of land rights to the Northern Territory and Australia and the importance of development on Aboriginal land. Uluru is an iconic cultural heritage place, as well as being environmentally very important, and it is internationally recognised as such. But historically the Anangu traditional owners have not done well out of it despite the fact that upwards of 300,000 people a year—certainly in the past—visit Uluru, and a proportion of the gate entry fee has gone back to the traditional owners. When the land was first transferred, there was not a great relationship between the tourism community and the traditional owners; in fact, there was quite a bit of tension. So, for a whole range of historical reasons, the economic benefits which could have been derived were not.

This piece of legislation is a way of putting a few things right. It is very clear that the Anangu want to be engaged in a way they probably were not engaged 30 years ago and see the benefits derived from this tourism icon, and the Yalara resort, permeate through their communities. That is a challenge; nevertheless, it is very important. What this piece of legislation will do is that, as a result of the leasing arrangements for Mutitjulu, the traditional owners of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park will benefit from further social and commercial process by gaining control of subleases on their land. The Anangu can maintain care of their country which, as I explained earlier, is so pivotal to their inheritance and life, and they can promote activities that share their country with national and international visitors in an environmentally sustainable and culturally appropriate way. The bill provides for the Aboriginals Benefit Account funds in support of these corporations to which the director of township leasing transfers the sublease. And that is quite important because there needs to be provision of finance to support those relationships. I again commend the legislation that the government has put forward, and the opposition is happy to support the amendments.

Question agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.