We acknowledge all First Peoples of this land and celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders and Ancestors who watch over us and guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
We acknowledge all First Peoples of this land and celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders and Ancestors who watch over us and guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Land rights are about more than land ownership. Recognising First Nations land rights affirms our cultural authority, traditional knowledge and Law. It also creates space for our political and economic participation in mainstream society.
Importantly, reclaiming land helps us preserve and strengthen stories of the deep past, as well as stories of colonial history and what it was like growing up First Nations in this country. Repossession of land means we can continue to care for Country. For example, by reinstating traditional farming practices and cultural burning techniques.
There are currently two key mechanisms by which First Nations people can reclaim land in the western legal system: land rights and native title. While these systems are both about recognising First Nations peoples’ rights to land, the two mechanisms operate under different legislation and differ in what they can provide.
There are fundamental differences between land rights and native title. Land rights are rights created by the federal, state or territory governments. Land rights usually comprise a grant of freehold or perpetual (ongoing) lease title to First Nations peoples.
Native title, however, emerges as a result of the recognition, under common law, of pre-existing First Nations rights and interests according to traditional Law and customs. Native title is not a grant or right created by governments.
This country does not have a national land rights scheme. Instead, each state and territory has its own legislation, which determines land rights arrangements with the First Nations that exist in their jurisdiction.
First Nations land rights were first legislated by the Federal Government in 1976, when they passed the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.
The legal recognition of Aboriginal land rights in the Northern Territory prompted the creation of Aboriginal land trusts to hold title to Aboriginal land. The Federal Government started to purchase privately owned land to be made available for claim by First Nations communities. The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 has resulted in almost 50 per cent of the Northern Territory being reclaimed by First Nations peoples.
Other state governments followed the lead of the Federal Government by introducing their own land rights legislation. For example, the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW), the Aboriginal Land Act 1991 (Qld), the Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991 (Qld), and the Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 1966 (SA).
While land rights legislation differs between the states and territories, it generally allows for the return of Crown (state-owned) land to First Nations peoples as compensation for the dispossession and ongoing ramifications experienced by First Nations people since invasion.
Native title is the legal recognition that First Nations people have rights and interests to land and waters according to our traditional Law and customs. Native title is governed by the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth).
Native title was introduced into law after the historic Mabo decision in which the High Court ruled that Australia was not terra nullius - a land belonging to no-one - at the time of European invasion. This decision recognised First Nations people as this continent’s original custodians. It also recognised that, where First Nations people have continued to exercise our rights and interests in accordance with traditional Law and customs, our rights and interests continue to exist in the colony.
While these activities are central to First Nations cultures and identities, native title doesn’t guarantee decision-making power for Traditional Owners over their own Country.
At that time, when the Native Title Act was passed, there was significant opposition... It doesn’t give us ownership of land. It doesn’t give us economic freedom… And as a history professor, history shows that the native title act did nothing more than protect and preserve white interest in land. It only further restricted our opportunity to claim actual rights to land.
The Australian Parliament passed the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) in 1993 which, among other things, provides a process for the determination of native title by the Federal Court. It also provides a process to reach agreements with the government and other parties, such as farmers and miners.
Native title requires First Nations people to prove they have had a continuous and unbroken connection to Country since before invasion. This is problematic considering the policies imposed on First Nations people after invasion were specifically designed to undermine connection to Country. For example, Australia’s policy of assimilation made lawful the forced removal of First Nations children from their families.
We are a First Nations not-for-profit that exists to centre First Nations people, Country and truth-telling. We acknowledge all First Peoples of this land and celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders and Ancestors who watch over us and guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
