NSW Aboriginal Land Council

About NSW Aboriginal Land Council

The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) was established in the late 1970s to assist in the fight for land rights and was formally constituted as a statutory corporation under the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Rights Act in 1983. As the State's peak representative body in Aboriginal Affairs, NSWALC aims to protect the interests and further the aspirations of its members and the broader Aboriginal community, making it the largest member-based Aboriginal organisation in NSW. NSWALC is committed to ensuring a better future for Aboriginal people by working for the return of culturally significant and economically viable land, pursuing cultural, social and economic independence for its people, and being politically proactive on issues that affect them. The Constitution, Objects and Functions of NSWALC are set out in Part 7 of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (1983), mandating NSWALC to provide for the development of land rights for Aboriginal people in NSW, in conjunction with a network of Local Aboriginal Land Councils, through land acquisition, establishment of commercial enterprises and community benefit schemes for a sustainable economic base, and the maintenance and enhancement of Aboriginal culture, identity, and heritage. NSWALC also acts as an advisor to, and negotiates with, Governments and other stakeholders to ensure the preservation of Aboriginal land rights. Under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (1983), NSWALC is empowered to administer accounts, grant funds for administrative costs of Local Aboriginal Land Councils, acquire land, approve/reject mining or mineral exploration agreements, make claims on Crown lands, manage the affairs of Local Aboriginal Land Councils with their agreement, conciliate disputes, make grants, lend or invest money, hold or dispose of land, ensure Local Aboriginal Land Councils comply with the Act, and advise the Minister on matters relating to Aboriginal land rights. The State's Land Council network operates as a two-tiered structure, comprising the peak body, NSWALC, which operates from Parramatta and five zone offices, and 120 Local Aboriginal Land Councils governed by elected Boards.