News & Publications
Rangers’ joint compliance patrol leads to successful prosecutions
Mar 28, 2024
Four people fishing without Northern Land Council (NLC) permits have received fines, after being caught in a joint exercise by Bulgul and Kakadu Rangers.
Borroloola residents recount horror, as community becomes latest to suffer inadequate emergency response
Mar 26, 2024
The NLC met with Borroloola flood evacuees in Darwin on the weekend and joins with them in urging Federal and Northern Territory governments to address poor emergency communications, evacuation processes, and future preparedness.
NLC appoints Interim CEO
Mar 15, 2024
The Northern Land Council has appointed Mrs Jessie Schaecken to the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
Arnhem Land water supply improvements a positive step
Mar 15, 2024
The NLC welcomes the Federal and Northern Territory governments’ joint commitment to important water infrastructure upgrades in Maningrida, Numbulwar, Yirrkala, and Gunyangara.
NLC announces change of leadership
Mar 14, 2024
The Northern Land Council (NLC) has announced that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joe Martin-Jard, is leaving the role, effective Friday.
NLC meets with Prime Minister to raise crucial issues
Mar 13, 2024
The Full Council of the Northern Land Council (NLC) hosted Federal politicians in Katherine, Northern Territory, yesterday.
NLC elects new Chair
Mar 11, 2024
The Full Council of the Northern Land Council elected Matthew Ryan as its new Chair in Katherine today.
High Court upholds Native Title rights
Feb 8, 2024
The High Court of Australia yesterday delivered a landmark ruling in favour of Yanyuwa and Yanyuwa-Mara native title holders.
Nitjpurru Community Leader Calls Out NT Chief Minister
Feb 1, 2024
Raymond Hector has voiced his dismay at the Northern Territory Chief Minister’s recent statements concerning flood-ravaged Nitjpurru (Pidgeon Hole).
Treaty Reboot Welcomed
Jan 23, 2024
The NLC welcomes the recommencement of the Northern Territory Treaty process.
Gunlom Falls Traditional Owners in High Court testcase
Dec 11, 2023
Traditional Owners of Gunlom Falls have today travelled to Canberra in the pursuit of justice.
The NLC welcomes the Nature Repair Market Bill and new ‘water trigger’ changes
Dec 6, 2023
The NLC welcomes the successful passing of the Nature Repair Market Bill through the Senate.
NLC Official Statement Passing of NLC Chairman
Nov 13, 2023
Today we mourn the loss of Dr Bush-Blanasi. His mother was a Yolngu woman from the Blue Mud Bay region and he was raised by a Mayili man from Wugularr community (Beswick).
Land Councils joint statement about the Referendum outcome
Oct 21, 2023
Through the Uluru Statement, Aboriginal people asked to be recognised in the Nation’s founding document and for a formal process to be established to inform government decision making on policy that affects our people and our communities
Northern Australia First Nations Alliance formed to represent First Nations interests in the North
Sep 28, 2023
The formation of the Northern Australia First Nations Alliance (the Alliance) was yesterday ratified at a meeting in Darwin, Northern Territory.
Commercial fishing activity in Buckingham Bay reeled in due to inaction from NT Government
Sep 20, 2023
In March 2023 the Northern Land Council (NLC) received a letter from the Member for Mulka, Yingiya Mark Guyula, relaying significant fisheries management concerns on behalf of families in the Buckingham Bay area of the East Arnhem region.
King Stingray headlines concert to celebrate 50 years of the Northern Land Council
Sep 13, 2023
The Northern Land Council is set to launch celebrations marking 50 years since the inaugural meeting of its first Full Council.
NLC calls for harsher penalties around illegal land clearing
Sep 4, 2023
The findings of the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security into illegal land clearing at Tarwoo Station represent a clear disregard by the Northern Territory Government in punishing criminal activity on land involving Aboriginal interests.
NT land councils bring Voice Declaration to the people’s house
Jun 22, 2023
The chairs of the four Northern Territory Aboriginal land councils will visit Parliament House in Canberra tomorrow to deliver the 2023.3 Barunga Declaration urging Australians to support a Voice to Parliament.
2023 Barunga Voice Declaration
Jun 15, 2023
The four Northern Territory Aboriginal land councils signed the Barunga Voice Declaration that addresses all Australians and urges them to support a Voice to Parliament
Federal Court decision welcomed
May 23, 2023
The Northern Land Council welcomes the decision of the Full Court of the Federal Court, paving the way for the Gove Peninsula Yolŋu native title case and associated compensation claim to be heard.
NLC Chair awarded Honorary Doctorate
May 23, 2023
The Northern Land Council congratulates Dr Samuel Bush-Blanasi on the awarding of his well-deserved Honorary Doctor of Letters (honoris causa).
Yunupingu honoured as a man of action who spoke truth to power
May 22, 2023
The Northern Land Council today honoured Yunupingu as a fierce fighter for land and sea rights, the Land Council, and for Aboriginal people across Australia.
NLC welcome much needed investment in National Parks
Apr 26, 2023
The Commonwealth Government’s announcement in the 2023-24 Budget of $262.3 million additional funding for Australia’s national parks has been warmly welcomed by the Northern Land Council.
Nation mourns loss of great leader
Apr 3, 2023
Today we mourn the loss of a great leader, statesman, and father. On behalf of past and present Members and staff, the Chair of the Northern Land Council, Dr Samuel Bush-Blanasi, offered his sincere condolences to Mr Yunupingu’s family.
Repairing nature means Caring for Country
Mar 29, 2023
The Chair of the Northern Land Council, Dr Samuel Bush-Blanasi, today welcomed the introduction of legislation into the Commonwealth Parliament to establish a ‘nature repair’ market.
“Enough is enough” – legal proceedings launched to challenge decision to permit more land clearing at Auvergne Station
Feb 13, 2023
Legal proceedings were commenced on Friday 10 February 2023 in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, challenging a decision made on 25 November 2022 by a delegate of the Pastoral Land Board to grant a permit to clear native vegetation over at least 923 hectares of land at Auvergne Station.
The NLC’s new Darwin office precinct reaches critical milestone
Dec 20, 2022
The development of the Northern Land Councils (NLC’s) new Darwin office precinct has reached a critical milestone, marking 50% design completion.
New arrangements for recreational fishing from 1 January 2023
Dec 8, 2022
Earlier today the Full Council of the Northern Land Council agreed to updated access arrangements for recreational fishers wanting to access waters overlying Aboriginal land from 1 January 2023.
NLC historic elections on the eve of 50th anniversary
Dec 7, 2022
The NLC made history today with delegates to the 124th Full Council meeting in Katherine voting to re-elect Samuel Bush-Blanasi as NLC Chair for a historic fourth term. Only one other person exceeds Dr Bush-Blanasi’s tenure as Chair of the Northern Land Council, the great Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu AM.
Northern Land Council condemns ‘sneaky’ Petroleum policy on the run
Nov 29, 2022
The Petroleum Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 was introduced to the Northern Territory Parliament in mid-October by the Minister for Mining and Industry, Nicole Manison. Information released by the NT Government following the introduction of the bill (Community Bulletin #55) made no reference to changes in relation to so-called ‘appraisal gas’.
Northern Land Council statement on passage of the NT Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
Nov 24, 2022
The Northern Land Council welcomes the passage of the Fisheries Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 in the NT Legislative Assembly overnight as the first milestone in the proposed legislative changes.
Critical milestone approaches for Blue Mud Bay
Nov 18, 2022
The end of December 2022 marks a significant milestone implementing the Blue Mud Bay Action Plan following the historic 2008 High Court decision.
‘NLC Chair announced NT Australian of the Year’
Nov 1, 2022
The Northern Land Council congratulates Chair, Samuel Bush-Blanasi, for his award as the 2023 Northern Territory Australian of the Year.
‘Racism in the AFL is a shameful betrayal of trust for all Aboriginal Territorians’
Sep 23, 2022
Chairman of the Northern Land Council, Samuel Bush-Blanasi has reflected on the continuing controversies about racist treatment of Aboriginal players in the AFL system.
Historic meeting of NT Land Councils held on Gurindji country
Aug 26, 2022
The four NT Land Councils held a historic meeting on Gurindji country, on Thursday, 25 August 2022.
Celebrating 10 years of successful two-way education
Aug 9, 2022
More than a hundred remote middle and senior school students, teachers, principals, rangers and coordinators from across the Northern Territory have come together (9th to 11th August) at Nitmiluk National Park to celebrate 10 years of the Learning on Country Program.
The NLC looks to local talent and the future with new head office
Jul 21, 2022
The NLC has reached an exciting stage in the development of its new Darwin head office at 29 Julius Street, Berrimah.
Northern Land Council supports NTG call for COVID vigilance – but don’t forget the flu!
Jul 7, 2022
The NLC supports NT Chief Minister's call for increased vigilance in response to the rise in COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the BA4 and BA5 Omicron variants in the NT.
Propelling Traditional Owners into key role in NT’s space industry
Jun 27, 2022
The NLC is proud to support the involvement of Traditional Owners in the NT’s space industry, which reached a historic milestone in late June with Australia’s first commercial space launch.
