In Australian history, the Aboriginal Land Rights Act established the basis upon which Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory could claim rights to land based on traditional occupation. The act, the first of the Aboriginal Land Rights Acts, was signed by the Governor-General of Australia 16 December, 1976. It was the first Australian law which allowed a claim of title if claimants could provide evidence of their traditional association with land.

There are four land councils established under the Act, they are the:

• Central Land Council is in the southern half of the Northern Territory
• Northern Land Council covering the Top End
• Tiwi Land Council covering Bathurst and Melville Islands north of Darwin
• Anindilyakawa Land Council covering Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

See also

• Vincent Lingiari
• The Gurindji Strike
• Gove land rights case
• Mabo
• Wik
• Native title
• terra nullius

External link

• Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth) background

Australian legislation | 1976 in Australia | 1976 in law | Native title | Indigenous Australian politics