30th Nov 2021, 7:02 PM – Senate Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment (Economic Empowerment) Bill 2021 - in Committee - Progress reports

The majority voted in favour of amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 1514, which were moved by Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe (Greens). These amendments will now form part of the bill and be sent back to the House of Representatives for their consideration.

The amendments introduce a requirement for the Minister to request (and provide to parliament) progress reports on the Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation's strategic investment plan.

Amendment text

(1) Schedule 1, item 19, page 46 (line 4), omit “may”, substitute “must”.

(2) Schedule 1, item 19, page 46 (after line 5), after subitem (4), insert:

(4A) The Minister must table a copy of any progress report given to the Minister in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the Minister receives the report.

What is this bill about?

According to the bills digest, the bill's purpose "is to amend the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (the Act) in four areas, covered by four Schedules:

• Schedule 1 will establish the Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation (NTAIC) as a new Aboriginal-controlled corporate Commonwealth entity to strategically invest in Aboriginal businesses and commercial projects and make other payments to or for the benefit of Aboriginal peoples in the NT
• Schedule 2 will amend the exploration and mining provisions of the Act in order to clarify and streamline a number of approval processes
• Schedule 3 will amend and clarify land administration provisions, including on township leases, access to Aboriginal land, land under escrow and other matters
• Schedule 4 will align payments from the Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA) with the Commonwealth’s financial framework and the timing of mineral royalties payments from the Northern Territory (NT)."