10th Oct 2024, 11:50 AM – Senate Committees - Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee; Reference - Aboriginal Land Councils and Traditional Owners

The majority voted against a motion introduced at the request of Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (Country Liberal Party), which means it failed.

Motion text

That the following matters be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 28 March 2025:

(a) the role, governance and accountability requirements of Aboriginal Land Councils and/or similar governing bodies, including native title representative bodies and prescribed bodies corporate, across Australia, their respective members and how these are maintained;

(b) the scope of services funded by the Australian Government and delivered by Aboriginal Land Councils or similar governing bodies and Aboriginal organisations, and how they are impacting the communities they act on behalf of;

(c) how services are delivered, their effectiveness and whether other opportunities exist to provide greater community-led benefit to Traditional Owners;

(d) how Traditional Owners are consulted in making decisions that impact on the entire community;

(e) how Aboriginal Land Councils and/or similar governing bodies and Aboriginal organisations assess applications for funding and develop and any reasons for delays;

(f) how the future of the Aboriginal Benefit Account funding will benefit communities; and

(g) any other related matters.