Aboriginal land and permits

These pages have information about how Aboriginal land is owned and managed in the Northern Territory (NT).

Under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (ALRA), Aboriginal land is freehold land granted and held by Aboriginal land trusts for the benefit of Traditional Aboriginal Owners.

Depending on land tenure type, government, public or private infrastructure (non-mining) on Aboriginal land is secured under a leasing or licensing arrangement pursuant to section 19 or 19A of ALRA.

Land councils

Land councils are Commonwealth government authorities that have legal functions including consulting with and expressing the wishes of traditional Aboriginal people with an interest in the affected land, and negotiating land tenure leasing arrangements.