Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee, , 7:02:50 to 7:08:52
The Northern Land Council addresses the 50th anniversary of the Land Rights Act, unsafe drinking water in remote communities, and new marine protection areas.
Topics: Water management, First Nations, Marine parks
Speakers: Yuseph Deen, Senator Karen Grogan
>> Thank you. and and welcome. [clears throat] Um uh we're we're uh delighted to have you with us today and congratulations on your appointment. Um we'll now move on to the Northern Land Council. Mr. Dean, if you'd like to introduce yourselves and then proceed to any opening statement that you have.
>> Uh [clears throat] thank you, Madame Chair. Uh good afternoon, Minister, uh senators and my uh land council colleagues. Uh I have with me uh as witnesses today u Mr. Nicole Hux the general manager for regional development. I have uh David Aelosh who's the general manager for governance strategy and communication and our general counsel Mr. Dan Daniel Kan. Uh if I may uh madame chair I want to acknowledge the nonal and numbry uh people on whose lands we stand today and recognize that their sovereignty over these lands was never seated and this always was and always will be Aboriginal Uh senators, it's been 50 years since the Aiginal Land Rights Act was passed. In the five decades since, the Northern Central, Tiwi, and Andelqua land councils have played a pivotal part in returning land, advocating for and assisting traditional owners to acquire and manage their lands and seeds. The Northern Land Council is committed to strongly advocating for a original people in the top end to acquire and manage their traditional lands and seeds through the exercise of these and other rights that have emerged over this time. Our vision is for a territory where the rights and responsibilities of traditional owners are not only recognized but respected and held with a level of authority. A originalinal people should be able to not only have ownership of their land and seas, but benefit economically, socially, and Senators, 2026 has brought significant challenges for our 51,000 constituents. But there have been also there have also been important achievements in recent months. The land the Northern Land Council's water committee and the Housing and Homelands Committee came together for the first time producing a powerful joint statement calling on all levels of government to take real action on the poor quality of essential services in remote communities. For too long, essential services in remote communities has been in the too hard basket for successive governments. Improving essential services in the region must no longer be an In Bula community west of Katherine, residents are unable to drink the tap water due to unsafe levels of barriium. And in Daily River, a community hit with the unprecedented flooding at the beginning of this year. Pallets of bottled water are being dropped off each week due to the water being deemed We are continuing to raise the alarm on this issue and amplify the voices of our traditional owners who are often overlooked on these matters. Senators, in a win for a original managed land, the Southeast Darnham land indigenous protected area officially acquired over 80,000 hectares of sea country, making it the largest marine area under Aboriginal management in the Northern Territory. This dedication was years in the making and was thanks to the strength and determination of past and current SEAL IPA members, traditional owners and NLC Senators, for the last few years, the NLC has supported a decision by native title holders to negotiate an appraisal agreement that allows the vital joint venture to sell up to 60 terles of gas per day over a period of three years. This agreement will mean a number of positive outcomes that will see jobs and benefits for native childhoods. Traditional owners want an active role in what happens on their country and are looking forward to growth and investment in local communities and in the township of Elliot. Genuine partnership with traditional owners is key for economic growth for the whole territory. Senators, the NLC's learning on country program continues to grow from strength to strength. In October, it was announced that the program is expanding from 14 to 18 remote community school sites, creating new opportunities for ainal students to engage in oncountry learning, strengthen cultural knowledge, and explore pathways to further education, training, and employment. This significant expansion will formally welcome the N Noatican Academy Schools at Mad Mad Dewy Manamoy and Kubla Mayama homelands into the program in partnership with Watican Land Management along alongside Bulman uh Wilm School in the partnership in uh land manage in partnership with the Mimmore land management. It is expected to engage an additional 90 to 115 middle and senior uh secondary students each year while creating part-time employment opportunities for approximately 35 to 50 local cultural educators and community Senators, as we head towards the end of 2026, that has been a that has been full of both challenging and rewarding uh that that has been full of both challenging as well as rewarding. We reflect on what has been achieved and on the work still ahead of us. Thank you, Madam Chair.