OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR, Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW)

ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCILS

LOCAL ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCILS

OVERVIEW

The key to participation in the land rights network in New South Wales is membership of a Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC). There are 121 LALCs, covering most of New South Wales, in nine regions (see map). Each region has a representative (a Councillor) on the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) who is directly elected by the voting members of the LALCs in that region.

As at 1 June 2009:

The total number of voting members is 17,094
The total number of non-voting members is 3,108

An area of a LALC is constituted under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act once a formal notice is published in the NSW Government Gazette. The relevant provisions are set out in Part 5, Division 1 of the Act. LALCs can contact the Office of the Registrar to request a copy of the Gazette notice for their LALC.

A LALC constituted under the Act is a 'body corporate'. The corporate name of a LALC is 'Local Aboriginal Land Council' preceded by the name of the area of the Council.

LALC OBJECTS AND FUNCTIONS

The objects of LALCs are 'to improve, protect and foster the best interests of all Aboriginal persons within the Council's area and other persons who are members of the Council' (see section 51 of the Act).

The functions of LALCs are set out in the Act in Part 5, Division 1A, section 52.

LALC functions relate to:

Claiming vacant Crown land
Land acquisition
Land use and management
Aboriginal culture and heritage
Financial stewardship
Other functions required under the Act or the Regulation

LALCs are also required to prepare and implement Community Land and Business Plans (see Part 5, Division 6 of the Act) in consultation with:

LALC members,
persons who have a cultural association with land in the land council's area and
other stakeholders

Information about Community Land and Business plans is available on the NSWALC website.

LALCs - SUMMARY OF DOCUMENTS & LINKS IN THIS SECTION

This page OVERVIEW

Local Aboriginal Land Council boundaries map
Constitution of Local Aboriginal Land Councils Part 5, Division 1
Objects of LALCs section 51 of the Act
Functions of LALCs Part 5 Division 1A, section 52 of the Act
Community Land and Business Plans Part 5, Division 6 of the Act
Community Land and Business Plans Information

Next page LALC RULES AND CODES OF CONDUCT

Provisions relating to Land Council rules section 52F of the Act
Provisions relating to Land Council rules section 29 of the Regulation
Model rules Schedule 2 of the Regulation
Conduct required of Board members and staff, section 176 of the Act
Codes of conduct, Part 10, Division 2. section 177 of the Act
Model code of conduct, Schedule 5 of the Regulation

Next page LALC BOARDS

LALC Boards Part 5, Division 3 (sections 61-72)
Election and training of Board Members Division 3 of the Regulation
Training of Board members, section 65 of the Act
Training of Board members and disqualification, section 66 of the Act
NSWALC Training and Development Unit

Next page CONDUCT OF LALC BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF

Standard of conduct, section 176 of the Act
Misbehaviour and suspension, Division 3A
Pecuniary interests and duties of disclosure, Part 10, Division 4

Next page DISQUALIFICATION FROM HOLDING OFFICE AS A LALC BOARD MEMBER

Grounds for disqualification, section 66 of the Act

Next page LALC EMPLOYEES

Provisions relating to employment, Part 5, Division 5, sections 78-81
Functions of a CEO, section 78A of the Act
Restrictions on employment of a person convicted of an offence under the Crimes Act
Persons who cannot be employed as Chief Executive Officer, section 78B of the Act

Next page LALC NAMES AND BOUNDARIES