Aboriginal people across the Northern Territory are being urged to voice their concerns to a Senate inquiry about proposed changes to the Aboriginal Land Rights Act NT.
The Economic Empowerment) Bill 2021 will establish a new Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation which the government says will invest in Aboriginal business and commercial projects and make payments for the benefit of aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory….but Emeritus Professor Jon Altman a former consultant to both the Northern and Central Land Councils and veteran observer of the Act says in his opinion there needs to be more discussion and scrutiny over the proposed changes.
Emeritus Professor Jon Altman
Professor Altman says developmental governments looking to mineral and gas extraction into the future see the rights inherent in the NT Lands Right Act as potentially blocking development… so there has been a concerted effort to dilute and streamline the act to make it more straightforward for development proposals. He also questioned the Governments use of royalty money allocated to the Aboriginal Benefit Account.
Listen to the full interview with Professor Jon Altman here: