{"id":"F2024L00700","name":"Native Title (Recognition as Representative Body – Northern Land Council) Instrument 2024","slug":"native-title-recognition-as-representative-body-northern-land-council-instrument-2024","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":105257,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2024L00700-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Name","content":"#### 1 Name\n\n This instrument is the Native Title (Recognition as Representative Body – Northern Land Council) Instrument 2024.","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"#### 2 Commencement\n\n(1) Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.\n\n```html\n

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

1. The whole of this instrument

1 July 2024

\n```\n\nNote: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.\n\n(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Authority","content":"#### 3 Authority\n\n This instrument is made under subsection 203AD(1) of the Native Title Act 1993.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Definitions","content":"#### 4 Definitions\n\nIn this instrument:\n\nAct means the Native Title Act 1993.\n\nRepresentative Body means a representative Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander body recognised under section 203AD of the Act.\n\nNorthern Land Council means the Northern Land Council as established under section 21 of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Schedules","content":"#### 5 Schedules\n\n Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.\n\n6 Recognised Representative Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Body\n\nFor subsection 203AD(1) of the Act, the Northern Land Council is recognised as the Representative Body for the area described in Schedule 1.\n\n7 Period of recognition\n\nFor subsection 203AD(2) of the Act, this recognition as a Representative Body takes effect on 1 July 2024 and ceases to have effect at the end of 30 June 2030.\n\n \n\nSchedule 1—Description of area (Northern Northern Territory)\n\n1 The Northern Northern Territory area is, firstly, all the area of land and waters bounded by a line commencing at the intersection of the Northern Territory border, the Western Australia State border and the coastline of mainland Australia, and then proceeding south along the western border of the Northern Territory to its intersection with the Central Land Council boundary line, vide Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, published in the Australian Government Gazette No. S6, 26 January 1977, as amended by notice published in the Australian Government Gazette No. G34, 30 August 1977, then generally south-easterly along the aforesaid boundary to its intersection with the Northern Territory’s eastern border, then north along the eastern border of the Northern Territory to the intersection of the Northern Territory border, the Queensland State border, the coastline of mainland Australia, then generally north along the Northern Territory and Queensland adjacent area boundary as defined in Schedule 2 of the Petroleum (Submerged Land) Act 1967 to its intersection with the outer limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Australia (EEZ), then generally westerly along that outer limit to its intersection with the Northern Territory and Western Australia adjacent area boundary as defined in Schedule 2 of the Petroleum (Submerged Land) Act 1967, and then generally south by that adjacent area boundary to the point where the line began.\n\nSecondly, all the area of land and waters bounded by a line commencing at the western intersection of the EEZ of Australia and the Western Australia and Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands adjacent area boundary as defined in Schedule 2 of the Petroleum (Submerged Land) Act 1967, and then proceeding generally easterly along that adjacent area boundary to the eastern intersection of the aforesaid boundary to the EEZ of Australia, and then generally westerly along the outer limit of the EEZ to the point where the line began.\n\n2 In this Schedule:\n\nexclusive economic zone means the exclusive economic zone within the meaning of the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973.","sortOrder":4}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument establishes recognition of the Northern Land Council as the Representative Body for the area described in Schedule 1 and fixes the recognition period (ss 6–7, Schedule 1). The text itself does not indicate any change from an earlier or original scope; it defines geographic and temporal scope by reference to existing statutory and gazetteed boundaries rather than altering statutory definitions."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to multiple external statutes and instruments (Native Title Act 1993 s203AD; Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976; Petroleum (Submerged Land) Act 1967; Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973) which require users to consult other texts to interpret boundaries (see ss 3, 6 and Schedule 1).","Technical geographic descriptions mixing terrestrial borders, gazette-declared land council boundaries and maritime limits (EEZ and adjacent area boundaries), which may need mapping to apply in practice (Schedule 1).","Temporal limitation of recognition (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2030) creates a finite administrative period and potential need for re-recognition processes (s 7).","Schedule mechanism and s 5 allowing amendment or repeal of instruments in schedules introduces potential interaction with other instruments, increasing implementation considerations.","Relatively short substantive text but legal effect depends on external definitions and historic gazette notices, increasing interpretive work for lawyers, administrators and affected parties."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument formally recognises the Northern Land Council (NLC) as the Native Title Representative Body under section 203AD of the Native Title Act 1993 for a defined Northern Northern Territory land and maritime area (Schedule 1). The recognition runs from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2030. It affects the NLC and native title holders and applicants in that area by designating who has statutory representative status for native title matters; the area is specified by reference to existing statutory borders, gazetted boundaries and maritime limits."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument performs exactly the function intended by the empowering provision (section 203AD of the Native Title Act 1993) — recognising a representative body for a specific area and period. It has not expanded beyond this narrow administrative purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (only 7 substantive sections plus a Schedule)","Minimal defined terms (only 4 definitions in section 4, plus 1 in Schedule 1)","Single operational purpose: recognition of one specific body for one specific area","Geographic description in Schedule 1 requires cross-referencing to other statutes (Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act 1976 and Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967) to determine boundaries","No conditional logic, exceptions, or nested provisions","Straightforward temporal limitation (fixed 6-year term)"],"plain_english_summary":"This decision formally recognises the Northern Land Council as the Representative Body for native title in the northern Northern Territory from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2030. It gives the NLC legal authority to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with native title claims and negotiations, and clarifies who governments, miners and developers must deal with. The instrument ensures continuity of accredited representation for Top End communities."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/native-title-recognition-as-representative-body-northern-land-council-instrument-2024","history":"/api/acts/native-title-recognition-as-representative-body-northern-land-council-instrument-2024/history","analysis":"/api/acts/native-title-recognition-as-representative-body-northern-land-council-instrument-2024/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/native-title-recognition-as-representative-body-northern-land-council-instrument-2024/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/native-title-recognition-as-representative-body-northern-land-council-instrument-2024/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/native-title-recognition-as-representative-body-northern-land-council-instrument-2024/documents"}}