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Commonwealth act
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
This legislation makes targeted amendments to an existing law governing the administration of the Northern Territory, specifically relating to the Aborigines Benefits Trust Fund — a special pool of money set aside for the benefit of Aboriginal Australians.
It replaces four subsections of the earlier 1910–1968 law with a more detailed set of rules about:
1. What money goes INTO the Fund The following revenue collected by the Commonwealth must be paid into the Fund:
2. When the Government can keep some money back The Minister can direct that a portion of royalties or rents be paid into general government revenue (the "Consolidated Revenue Fund") instead of the Trust Fund, but only in two specific situations:
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Direct links to the current provisions in Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1969.
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View on official registerSourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
3. How money can be SPENT from the Fund Money in the Fund can only be spent:
Payments can be made as loans (money that must be repaid, with or without security), and any interest earned by investing the Fund's money stays in the Fund.
4. Which land is covered The rules apply to land that is, or was at any point after 2 September 1953, declared as a reserve for Aboriginal people under Territory law. Importantly, land that used to be a reserve but no longer is still counts — closing a reserve doesn't remove the obligations.
This law is an early example of the Commonwealth attempting to ensure that revenue generated from economic activity on Aboriginal land is directed back to benefit Aboriginal people, rather than simply flowing into general government coffers. It also gives the Minister significant discretionary power — particularly the ability to divert money away from the Fund to recoup government spending — which is a notable tension in the legislation.