On 25 January 2011 an application to establish the Katherine Regional Land Council was submitted to Minister Macklin under section 21(A) of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.
Minister Macklin referred the application for enquiry to the former Aboriginal Land Commissioner, the Hon Justice Howard Olney AM QC.
Justice Olney completed his enquiry on 27 April 2012 and has prepared two reports:
The Reports were prepared in accordance with the Terms of Reference and should be read in conjunction with them.
The Reports address matters of fact and do not make recommendations concerning the application.
A number of submissions were received during the course of Justice Olney’s enquiry.
Submissions not marked confidential can be accessed below.
Personal details contained in the submissions have been removed.
- Application - For the establishment of the Katherine Regional Land Council - Further Information
- Submission to Enquiry - The Minerals Council of Australia – Northern Territory Division
- Submission to Enquiry - The West Arnhem Shire
- Submission to Enquiry - The Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce
- Submission to Enquiry - Northern Land Council
- Submission to Enquiry - Tourism NT
- Submission to Enquiry - Name Removed for Privacy Purposes
- Submissions to Enquiry - Director of National Parks
- Submission to Enquiry - Ngalalek and Werenbun Corporations
- Submissions to Enquiry - Name Removed for Privacy Purposes
Minister Macklin invited comment from the applicants of the proposed Katherine Regional Land Council and the Northern Land Council on the enquiry reports prepared by Justice Olney. These submissions can be accessed below.
Personal details contained in the submissions have been removed.
- Final Submission - Applicants of the proposed Katherine Regional Land Council
- Final Submission - Northern Land Council
On 14 February 2013 Minister Macklin refused the application to establish the Katherine Regional Land Council.
Under the provisions of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, the Minister is required to make a decision on whether or not to support the establishment of the new Land Council. This includes being satisfied that the proposed new Land Council will be able to satisfactorily perform its statutory functions.
Following consideration of the application, Justice Olney’s enquiry reports and the submissions made to the enquiry, Minister Macklin was not satisfied that the applicants could satisfactorily perform the functions of a Land Council.
Minister Macklin’s decision was announced in a media release.