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Validation (Native Title) Act 1994
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NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
VALIDATION (NATIVE TITLE) ACT 1994
As in force at 18 June 1999
Table of provisions
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1
2 Act binds the Crown ........................................................................ 1
3 Interpretation ................................................................................... 1
3A Previous exclusive possession acts ................................................ 1
3B Previous non-exclusive possession acts ......................................... 2
3C Extinguishment apart from this Act .................................................. 2
Part 2 Validation of acts attributable to the
Territory
4 Past acts .......................................................................................... 2
4A Intermediate period acts .................................................................. 2
Part 3 Effect of validation of certain past acts
4D Application ....................................................................................... 2
5 Category A acts that are not public works ....................................... 2
6 Category A acts that are public works ............................................. 2
7 Inconsistent category B acts ............................................................ 3
8 Category C and D acts .................................................................... 3
9 Extinguishment not of itself a right to eject from certain
pastoral land .................................................................................... 3
Part 3A Effect of validation of certain intermediate
period acts
9A Application ....................................................................................... 3
9B Category A acts that are freehold or leasehold grants..................... 3
9C Category A acts that are public works ............................................. 3
9D Inconsistent category B acts ............................................................ 4
9E Category C and D acts .................................................................... 4
9F Effect changed by agreement .......................................................... 4
Part 3B Extinguishment of native title by previous
exclusive possession acts
9G Application ....................................................................................... 4
9H Grant of freehold estates, scheduled interests, &c. ......................... 4
9J Public works .................................................................................... 4
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 ii
9JA Confirmation of validity of use of certain land held by Crown,
&c. ................................................................................................... 5
9JB Attribution of certain acts ................................................................. 5
Part 3C Effect of previous non-exclusive
possession acts on native title
9K Application ....................................................................................... 5
9L Rights and interests that are not inconsistent with native title.......... 5
9M Rights and interests that are inconsistent with native title ............... 6
9N Notification ....................................................................................... 6
9NA Attribution of certain acts ................................................................. 7
Part 4 Past grants of title
10 Validation of grants of title before 1911 ........................................... 7
Part 5 Other effects of validation
11 Preservation of beneficial reservations and conditions .................... 7
Part 6 Confirmation of certain rights under
section 212 of Commonwealth Act
12 Confirmation of ownership of natural resources, &c. ....................... 8
13 Confirmation of access to beaches, &c. .......................................... 8
Schedule 1 Previous exclusive possession acts
Schedule 2 Scheduled interests in Territory
Schedule 3 Previous non-exclusive possession acts
ENDNOTES
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
____________________
This reprint shows the Act as in force at 18 June 1999. Any amendments that
commence after that date are not included.
____________________
VALIDATION (NATIVE TITLE) ACT 1994
An Act to validate certain acts attributable to the Territory, to make
provision for the effect of certain acts attributable to the Territory on
native title, and for related purposes
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Validation (Native Title) Act 1994.
2 Act binds the Crown
This Act binds the Crown not only in right of the Territory but, to the
extent that the legislative power of the Legislative Assembly
permits, the Crown in all its other capacities.
3 Interpretation
(1) In this Act Commonwealth Act means the Native Titles Act 1993
of the Commonwealth.
(2) Unless the contrary intention appears, a word or expression used in
the Commonwealth Act has the same meaning in this Act as it has
in the Commonwealth Act.
3A Previous exclusive possession acts
(1) For the purposes of this Act, a previous exclusive possession act is
a previous exclusive possession act within the meaning of
section 23B of the Commonwealth Act, which meaning in so far as
it relates to the Territory is set out in Schedules 1 and 2 to this Act.
(2) In the event of an inconsistency between section 23B of the
Commonwealth Act and Schedule 1 to this Act or between
Schedule 1 to the Commonwealth Act and Schedule 2 to this Act,
section 23B or Schedule 1 of the Commonwealth Act (as the case
may be) prevails.
Part 3 Effect of validation of certain past acts
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 2
3B Previous non-exclusive possession acts
(1) For the purposes of this Act, a previous non-exclusive possession
act is a previous non-exclusive possession act within the meaning
of section 23F of the Commonwealth Act, which meaning in so far
as it relates to the Territory is set out in Schedule 3 to this Act.
(2) In the event of an inconsistency between section 23F of the
Commonwealth Act and Schedule 3 to this Act, section 23F of the
Commonwealth Act prevails.
3C Extinguishment apart from this Act
To avoid doubt, native title or native title rights and interests may
have been extinguished other than by this Act.
Part 2 Validation of acts attributable to the Territory
4 Past acts
Every past act attributable to the Territory is valid and is taken
always to have been valid.
4A Intermediate period acts
Every intermediate period act attributable to the Territory is valid
and is taken always to have been valid.
Part 3 Effect of validation of certain past acts
4D Application
This Part applies to past acts to which Parts 3B and 3C do not
apply.
5 Category A acts that are not public works
A category A past act, that is not a past act to which section 229(4)
(which deals with public works) of the Commonwealth Act applies,
extinguishes native title concerned.
6 Category A acts that are public works
(1) A category A past act to which section 229(4) of the
Commonwealth Act applies extinguishes native title in relation to
the land or waters on which the public work concerned (on
completion of its construction or establishment) was or is situated.
Part 3A Effect of validation of certain intermediate period acts
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 3
(2) If section 229(4)(a) (which deals with works completed after
1 January 1994) of the Commonwealth Act applies to the past act,
the extinguishment is taken to have happened on 1 January 1994.
7 Inconsistent category B acts
A category B past act wholly or partly inconsistent with the
continued existence, enjoyment or exercise of the native title rights
and interests concerned, extinguishes the native title to the extent
of the inconsistency.
8 Category C and D acts
The non-extinguishment principle applies to all category C and D
past acts.
9 Extinguishment not of itself a right to eject from certain
pastoral land
An extinguishment effected by this Part does not of itself confer a
right to eject or remove an Aboriginal person who resides on or who
exercises access over land or waters covered by a pastoral lease
the grant, re-grant or extension of which is validated by Part 2.
Part 3A Effect of validation of certain intermediate
period acts
9A Application
This Part applies to intermediate period acts to which Parts 3B
and 3C do not apply.
9B Category A acts that are freehold or leasehold grants
Subject to section 9F, a category A intermediate period act to which
section 232B(2),(3) or (4) of the Commonwealth Act (which deal
with things such as the grant or vesting of freehold estates and
certain leases) applies extinguishes all native title in relation to the
land or waters concerned.
9C Category A acts that are public works
(1) Subject to section 9F, a category A intermediate period act to which
section 232B(7) of the Commonwealth Act (which deals with public
works) applies extinguishes the native title in relation to the land or
waters on which the public work concerned (on completion of its
construction or establishment) was or is situated.
Part 3B Extinguishment of native title by previous exclusive possession acts
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 4
(2) The extinguishment is taken to have happened when the
construction or establishment began.
9D Inconsistent category B acts
Subject to section 9F, a category B intermediate period act that is
wholly or partly inconsistent with the continued existence,
enjoyment or exercise of the native title rights and interests
concerned extinguishes the native title to the extent of the
inconsistency.
9E Category C and D acts
Subject to section 9F, the non-extinguishment principle applies to
all category C and D intermediate period acts.
9F Effect changed by agreement
Sections 9B, 9C, 9D and 9E apply subject to section 24EBA(6) of
the Commonwealth Act.
Part 3B Extinguishment of native title by previous
exclusive possession acts
9G Application
This Part applies to all previous exclusive possession acts
attributable to the Territory.
9H Grant of freehold estates, scheduled interests, &c.
(1) A previous exclusive possession act under section 23B(2) of the
Commonwealth Act (which is set out in clause 1 of Schedule 1 to
this Act), including because of section 23B(3) of the Commonwealth
Act (which is set out in clause 2 of Schedule 1 to this Act),
extinguishes any native title in relation to the land or waters covered
by the freehold estate, Scheduled interest or lease concerned.
(2) The extinguishment is taken to have happened when the act was
done.
9J Public works
(1) A previous exclusive possession act under section 23B(7) of the
Commonwealth Act (which deals with public works and which is set
out in clause 3 of Schedule 1 to this Act) extinguishes native title in
relation to the land or waters on which the public work concerned
(on completion of its construction or establishment) was or is
situated.
Part 3C Effect of previous non-exclusive possession acts on native title
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 5
(2) The extinguishment is taken to have happened when the
construction or establishment of the public work began.
9JA Confirmation of validity of use of certain land held by Crown,
&c.
To avoid doubt, if an act is a previous exclusive possession act
because of section 23B(9C)(b) of the Commonwealth Act (which
deals with grants to the Crown, &c. and which is set out in
clause 7(b) of Schedule 1 to this Act), the use of the land or waters
concerned as mentioned in that section is valid.
9JB Attribution of certain acts
If:
(a) a previous exclusive possession act took place before the
establishment of the Territory; and
(b) the act affected land or waters that, when this section
commences, form part of the Territory,
for the purposes of this Part, the act is taken to be attributable to
the Territory.
Part 3C Effect of previous non-exclusive possession
acts on native title
9K Application
(1) Subject to subsection (2), this Part applies to all previous
non-exclusive possession acts attributable to the Territory.
(2) This Part does not apply to the grant of a pastoral lease or an
agricultural lease to which section 5 applies.
9L Rights and interests that are not inconsistent with native title
To the extent that a previous non-exclusive possession act involves
the grant of rights and interests that are not inconsistent with native
title rights and interests in relation to the land or waters covered by
the lease concerned:
(a) the rights and interests granted by the act; and
(b) the doing of any activity in giving effect to them,
prevail over the native title rights and interests but do not extinguish
them.
Part 3C Effect of previous non-exclusive possession acts on native title
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 6
9M Rights and interests that are inconsistent with native title
(1) To the extent that a previous non-exclusive possession act involves
the grant of rights and interests that are inconsistent with native title
rights and interests in relation to the land or waters covered by the
lease concerned:
(a) if, apart from this Act, the act extinguishes the native title
rights and interests – the native title rights and interests are
extinguished; and
(b) in any other case – the native title rights and interests are
suspended while the lease concerned, or the lease as
renewed, re-made, re-granted or extended, is in force.
(2) The extinguishment under subsection (1)(a) is taken to have
happened when the act was done.
9N Notification
(1) In the case of a previous non-exclusive possession act to which
section 23F(3)(c)(ii) of the Commonwealth Act (which is set out in
clause 2(c)(ii) of Schedule 3 to this Act) applies:
(a) the Territory Minister must give notice, in the way determined
in writing by the Commonwealth Minister, to:
(i) any representative Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander
bodies in relation to the land or waters that will be
affected by the act;
(ii) any registered native title bodies corporate in relation to
the land or waters that will be affected by the act; and
(iii) any registered native title claimants in relation to the land
or waters that will be affected by the act,
about the doing or proposed doing of the act, or acts of that
class, in relation to the land or waters concerned; and
(b) the Territory Minister must give the persons referred to in
paragraph (a)(i), (ii) and (iii) an opportunity to comment on the
act or class of acts.
(2) In subsection (1), Territory Minister means the Minister to whom
responsibility for land administration and usage is allotted under an
Administrative Arrangements Order.
Part 5 Other effects of validation
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 7
9NA Attribution of certain acts
If:
(a) a previous non-exclusive possession act took place before the
establishment of the Territory; and
(b) the act affected land or waters that, when this section
commences, form part of the Territory,
for the purposes of this Part, the act is taken to be attributable to
the Territory.
Part 4 Past grants of title
10 Validation of grants of title before 1911
(1) Every grant of title, whether freehold or leasehold, of land (whether
or not covered by water) in the geographical area that now
constitutes the Northern Territory made at any time before
1 January 1911 by the Crown in any capacity, to the extent that
there could be any doubt about its validity because of the possibility
of the existence of native title affecting the land at the time of the
grant, is confirmed to be, and shall be taken always to have been,
validly made.
(2) To the extent that the operation of subsection (1) constitutes an
acquisition of property within the meaning of section 50 of the
Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978 of the
Commonwealth, the property shall be acquired on just terms.
Part 5 Other effects of validation
11 Preservation of beneficial reservations and conditions
If:
(a) an act attributable to the Territory contains a reservation or
condition for the benefit of Aboriginal peoples or Torres Strait
Islanders; or
(b) the doing of the act would affect rights or interests (other than
native title rights and interests) of Aboriginal peoples or Torres
Strait Islanders (whether arising under legislation, at common
law or in equity and whether or not rights of usage),
nothing in Part 3, 3A, 3B or 3C affects that reservation or condition,
or those rights or interests.
Part 6 Confirmation of certain rights under section 212 of Commonwealth Act
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 8
Part 6 Confirmation of certain rights under
section 212 of Commonwealth Act
12 Confirmation of ownership of natural resources, &c.
(1) The existing ownership of all natural resources owned by the
Territory is confirmed.
(2) All existing rights of the Territory to use, control and regulate the
flow of water are confirmed.
(3) All existing fishing rights under Territory law are confirmed to prevail
over other public or private fishing rights.
13 Confirmation of access to beaches, &c.
(1) Existing public access to and enjoyment of the following places is
confirmed:
(a) waterways;
(b) beds and banks or foreshores of waterways;
(c) coastal waters;
(d) beaches;
(da) stock routes;
(e) areas that were public places at the end of
31 December 1993.
(2) The confirmation by subsection (1) of this section does not
extinguish or impair any native title rights and interests and does
not affect any conferral of land or waters, or an interest in land or
waters, under a law that confers benefits only on Aboriginal peoples
or Torres Strait Islanders.
Schedule 1 Previous exclusive possession acts
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 9
Schedule 1 Previous exclusive possession acts
section 3A
1. An act is a previous exclusive possession act if:
(a) it is valid (including because of Division 2 or 2A of Part 2 of the
Commonwealth Act);
(b) it took place on or before 23 December 1996; and
(c) it consists of the grant or vesting of any of the following:
(i) a Scheduled interest within the meaning of section 249C
of the Commonwealth Act, being:
(A) anything set out in Schedule 2 to this Act, other
than a mining lease or anything whose grant or
vesting is covered by clause 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, of this
Schedule; or
(B) an interest, in relation to land or waters, of a type
declared by a regulation under the Commonwealth
Act for the purposes of section 249C(1)(b) of that
Act;
(ii) a freehold estate;
(iii) a commercial lease that is neither an agricultural lease
nor a pastoral lease;
(iv) an exclusive agricultural lease or an exclusive pastoral
lease;
(v) a residential lease;
(vi) a community purposes lease;
(vii) what was taken by section 245(3) of the Commonwealth
Act to be a separate lease in respect of land or waters
mentioned in section 245(3)(a) of that Act, assuming that
the reference in section 245(2) of that Act to
"1 January 1994" were instead a reference to
"24 December 1996";
(viii) any lease (other than a mining lease) that confers a right
of exclusive possession over particular land or waters.
Schedule 1 Previous exclusive possession acts
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 10
2. If:
(a) by or under legislation of the Territory, particular land or
waters are vested in any person; and
(b) a right of exclusive possession of the land or waters is
expressly or impliedly conferred on the person by or under the
legislation,
the vesting is taken for the purposes of clause 1(c) to be the vesting
of a freehold estate over the land or waters.
3. An act is a previous exclusive possession act if:
(a) it is valid (including because of Division 2 or 2A of the
Commonwealth Act); and
(b) it consists of the construction or establishment of any public
work that commenced to be constructed or established on or
before 23 December 1996.
4. An act is not a previous exclusive possession act if it is:
(a) the grant or vesting of any thing that is made or done by or
under legislation that makes provision for the grant or vesting
of such things only to, in or for the benefit of, Aboriginal
peoples or Torres Strait Islanders;
(b) the grant or vesting of any thing expressly for the benefit of, or
to or in a person to hold on trust expressly for the benefit of,
Aboriginal peoples or Torres Strait Islanders; or
(c) the grant or vesting of any thing over particular land or waters,
if at the time a thing covered by paragraph (a) or (b) is in effect
in relation to the land or waters.
5. An act is not a previous exclusive possession act if the grant or
vesting concerned involves the establishment of an area, such as a
national or Territory park, for the purpose of preserving the natural
environment of the area.
6. An act is not a previous exclusive possession act if it is done by or
under legislation that expressly provides that the act does not
extinguish native title.
Schedule 1 Previous exclusive possession acts
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 11
7. If an act is the grant or vesting of an interest in relation to land or
waters to or in the Crown in any capacity or a statutory authority,
the act is not a previous exclusive possession act:
(a) unless, apart from this Act, the grant or vesting extinguishes
native title in relation to the land or waters; or
(b) if the grant or vesting does not, apart from this Act, extinguish
native title in relation to the land or waters – unless and until
the land or waters are (whether before or after
23 December 1996) used to any extent in a way that, apart
from this Act, extinguishes native title in relation to the land or
waters.
8. An act is not a previous exclusive possession act if regulations
under the Commonwealth Act provide that the act is not a previous
exclusive possession act.
9. To avoid doubt, the fact that an act is, because of any of the
previous clauses, not a previous exclusive possession act does not
imply that the act is not valid.
Schedule 2 Scheduled interests in Territory
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 12
Schedule 2 Scheduled interests in Territory
section 3A
1. TOWN LEASES, &c.
(1) A lease of town land under Division 4 of Part III of the Crown Lands
Ordinance 1912 (No. 3 of 1912) of the Commonwealth, Division 4
of Part III of the Crown Lands Ordinance 1912 (No. 8 of 1912) of
the Commonwealth, Division 4 of Part III of the Crown Lands
Ordinance 1924 of the Commonwealth, Division 4 of Part III of the
Crown Lands Ordinance 1927 (Territory of North Australia) of the
Commonwealth, Division 4 of Part III of the Crown Lands
Ordinance 1927 (Territory of Central Australia) of the
Commonwealth or section 25CF, 74A or 74D or Division 4 of Part III
of the Crown Lands Act 1931-1991, other than a lease that:
(a) permits the lessee to use the land or waters covered by the
lease solely or primarily for a harbour; or
(b) both:
(i) permits the lessee to use the land or waters covered by
the lease solely or primarily for grazing or pastoral
purposes; and
(ii) does not permit the lessee to use the land or waters
solely or primarily for agriculture, horticulture, cultivation,
or a similar purpose.
(2) A town land subdivision lease under Division 6 of Part III of the
Crown Lands Act 1931-1991.
2. AGRICULTURAL LEASES, &c.
(1) A lease of agricultural land, or an agricultural lease, under
Division 3 of Part III of the Crown Lands Ordinance 1912 (No. 3
of 1912) of the Commonwealth, Division 3 of Part III of the Crown
Lands Ordinance 1912 (No. 8 of 1912) of the Commonwealth,
Division 3 of Part III of the Crown Lands Ordinance 1924 of the
Commonwealth, Division 3 of Part III of the Crown Lands
Ordinance 1927 (Territory of North Australia) of the
Commonwealth, Division 3 of Part III of the Crown Lands
Ordinance 1927 (Territory of Central Australia) of the
Commonwealth, section 25CG, 25DAA, 74A or 74D or Division 3 of
Part III of the Crown Lands Act 1931-1991 or section 14 of the
Agricultural Development Leases Ordinance 1956 of the
Commonwealth, or under the Agreement a copy of which is set out
in the Schedule to the Rice Development Agreement
Schedule 2 Scheduled interests in Territory
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 13
Ordinance 1956 of the Commonwealth, other than:
(a) an agricultural (mixed farming and grazing) lease; or
(b) a lease that:
(i) permits the lessee to use the land or waters covered by
the lease solely or primarily for grazing or pastoral
purposes; and
(ii) does not permit the lessee to use the land or waters
solely or primarily for agriculture, horticulture, cultivation,
or a similar purpose.
(2) An agricultural lease of an experimental farm under section 16A of
the Crown Lands Act 1931-1991, other than a lease that:
(a) permits the lessee to use the land or waters covered by the
lease solely or primarily for grazing or pastoral purposes; and
(b) does not permit the lessee to use the land or waters solely or
primarily for agriculture, horticulture, cultivation, or a similar
purpose.
(3) An agricultural development lease under the Agricultural
Development Leases Ordinance 1956 of the Commonwealth or
under the Agreement a copy of which is set out in the Schedule to
the Rice Development Agreement Ordinance 1956 of the
Commonwealth, other than:
(a) an agricultural (mixed farming and grazing) lease; or
(b) a lease that:
(i) permits the lessee to use the land or waters covered by
the lease solely or primarily for grazing or pastoral
purposes; and
(ii) does not permit the lessee to use the land or waters
solely or primarily for agriculture, horticulture, cultivation,
or a similar purpose.
3. LEASES FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES, &c.
(1) A lease for special purposes, or a special purposes lease, under
section 83 of the Northern Territory Land Act 1872 of South
Australia, section 79 of the Northern Territory Crown Lands
Consolidation Act 1882 of South Australia, section 77 or 78 of the
Northern Territory Crown Lands Act 1890 of South Australia or
section 4 of the Special Purposes Leases Act 1953 that permits the
Schedule 2 Scheduled interests in Territory
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 14
lessee to use the land or waters covered by the lease solely or
primarily for any of the following:
abattoir; Aboriginal hostel; accommodation; aerodrome; aged
home; aged persons' flats; agricultural farm and garden; agriculture
and mixed farming; airstrip; ambulance headquarters; ambulance
station; amphitheatre; animal husbandry centre; animal shelter;
archery club; archery range; art gallery; aviary; bakery; banana
plantation; barge landing; barge terminal; basketball club;
basketball court; bathing house; benevolent social work centre;
blood centre and meeting rooms; blood transfusion centre; board
headquarters; boatyard; botanic gardens; bowhunting club;
bowhunting range; bowling club; bowling green; brick factory; brick
yard; building or repairing boats; bulk cargo wharf; butcher; cafe;
cannery; canteen; car parking; caravan park; caravan park and
camping ground; cargo handling; cargo storage; carparking; cattle
holding yard; centre for the spiritual and social welfare of children;
child care; child minding centre; children's home; children's hostel;
church; church hall; church manse; church rectory; cinema; civic
centre; clinic; club building; club house; club room; college;
community creche; community hall; community storage; community
welfare centre; company headquarters; convent; convention centre;
cooperative society; court house; craft complex; creche;
crematorium; cricket club; cricket ground; croquet club; croquet
pitch; dairy; depositing materials or produce; disposal of red mud;
drive-in theatre; dry cleaners; educational institution; elderly
persons' home; engineering workshop; equestrian club; equestrian
field; erection of a wharf, berth, storehouse or slip for building or
repairing ships and other vessels; explosive storage; factory; feed
lot yard; ferry terminal; fish processing; food processing; football
club; football ground; funeral home; game fishing club; game safari
base; garage; gas storage facility; general store; Girl Guide
accommodation cabin; Girl Guide hall; gliding club; golf club; golf
course; greyhound racing; greyhound track; guest house; Guide
hall; gun club; hall; headquarters of Australian Red Cross; hockey
club; hockey pitch; holiday accommodation and facilities; holiday
cabin; horse and pony club; horse stable; horse yard; horticulture;
hostel; hotel; hotel/motel; housing units; industrial area; industrial
purposes; inflammable materials storage; inn; institute of linguistics;
jetty; kennel; kiln; landscaping supply depot; leadership centre;
library; light industry; lime works; lodge hall; lodge room; lodge
temple; mail station; manufacture of stockfood; marina; marina
workshop; Masonic hall; meat packaging; meatwork effluent
disposal; meatworks; meeting room; motel; motocross circuit;
motorcycle racing; motor racing circuit; motor sports; municipal
depot; museum; museum and art gallery; netball club; netball court;
nursery; office; office of the Northern Territory Electricity
Commission; on-shore tour boat base; on-shore trawler base; ore
stockpile; orphanage; patrol headquarters; pearl culture land base;
Schedule 2 Scheduled interests in Territory
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 15
pearling depot; permanent construction camp accommodation;
petrol depot; petrol station; pistol club; pistol range; police station;
police youth club; polocrosse club; polocrosse field; pony club; pony
field; post office; poultry farm; pound; power station; pre-school;
preservation and protection of artillery museum; preservation and
restoration of well site; private sport site; private sports club; public
swimming pool; punt house; quay; racecourse; racing club; radio
communications building; radio communications tower; radio
receiver station; radio transmitter; rail line; railway spurline; religious
centre; research centre; research institute; residence; residential
purposes; rest rooms; restaurant; retail store; rice growing; rifle
club; rifle range; road house; road transport depot; rural residence;
Salvation Army centre; sawmill; sawmilling depot; school; scientific
research centre; Scout hall; seafarers' centre; seed processing
plant; service station; sewage treatment; sheltered workshop; ship's
chandlery; ship maintenance facility; shooting range; shore base for
oyster cultivation; show ground; showroom; slaughter yard; slipway;
speedway; sporting arena; sporting oval; sports club; sports
complex; sports field, pitch, stadium or oval; sports ground; sports
training ground; stockpiling and loading ore; storage; storage depot;
storage of boats; store; studio; surgery; swimming club; swimming
pool; television studio; tennis club; tennis court; theatre; toll house;
tour base; tourist accommodation; tourist lodge; tourist theme park
or facility; training centre; transport depot; warehouse; water
treatment plant; watersports; wayside cafe; wayside inn; welfare
centre; wharf; wholesale outlet; windmill; windmill servicing depot;
wireless aerial site; workshop; youth services centre; zoo.
(2) A special purposes lease under section 6 of the Mining (Gove
Peninsula Nabalco Agreement) Act 1968 or clause 4(2) of the
Agreement a copy of which is set out in the Schedule to that Act
that permits the lessee to use the land or waters covered by the
leases solely or primarily for any of the following:
bulk cargo wharf; disposing of red mud and other effluents; general
cargo wharf; industrial purposes; intake and discharge canal
associated with plant cooling system; permanent construction camp
accommodation; plant cooling system; sewage treatment plant;
water reticulation plant.
4. MISCELLANEOUS LEASES
(1) A miscellaneous lease under Division 5 of Part III of the Crown
Lands Ordinance 1912 (No. 3 of 1912) of the Commonwealth,
Division 5 of Part III of the Crown Lands Ordinance 1912 (No. 8
of 1912) of the Commonwealth, Division 5 of Part III of the Crown
Lands Ordinance 1924 of the Commonwealth, Division 5 of Part III
of the Crown Lands Ordinance 1927 (Territory of North Australia) of
the Commonwealth, Division 5 of Part III of the Crown Lands
Schedule 2 Scheduled interests in Territory
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 16
Ordinance 1927 (Territory of Central Australia) of the
Commonwealth or section 25DAA, 74D or 74E or Division 5 of
Part III of the Crown Lands Act 1931-1991 that permits the lessee
to use the land or waters covered by the lease solely or primarily for
any of the following:
abattoir; Aboriginal hostel; accommodation; agricultural and mixed
farming; agricultural farm and garden; agriculture; airstrip;
amphitheatre; amusement hall; animal husbandry centre; archery
club; archery range; art gallery; aviary; bakery; banana plantation;
basketball club; basketball court; board and lodging house; board
headquarters; boatbuilding; boatyard; bowhunting club; bowhunting
range; bowling club; bowling green; brewery; brick factory; brick
yard; brickmaking; Buffalo temple site; building or repairing boats;
butchering; cafe; cannery; cargo storage; cinema; club; club house;
club room; convalescent home; convent; convention centre; cotton
farming; court house; crematorium; cricket club; cricket ground;
croquet club; croquet pitch; cultivation; curing and storage of buffalo
hides; dairy; depot; drive-in theatre; dry cleaners; dwelling house;
engineering workshop; equestrian club; equestrian field; factory;
feed lot yard; ferry terminal; fishing depot; flower seed plantation;
football club; football ground; fruit growing; funeral home; game
fishing club; game safari base; garage; garden; gas storage facility;
general store; golf club; golf course; goods shed; guest house;
hangar; hay production; hay shed; hockey club; hockey pitch;
holding ground for cattle slaughtering; holiday accommodation and
facilities; homestead; horse stable; horse yard; hostel; hotel; hotel
store; industrial purposes; irrigation farming; kennel; kiln;
kindergarten; landscaping supply depot; laundry; library; lodge
room; market garden; motocross circuit; motor racing circuit; netball
club; netball court; office; old men’s home; on-shore tour boat base;
orchard; orchid garden; pasture seed plantation; permanent
construction camp accommodation petrol depot; pig yard; piggery;
pistol club; pistol range; plant nursery; plantation; polocrosse club;
polocrosse field; pony club; pony field; poultry farm; pound; power
station; racecourse; radio communications building; radio
communications tower; radio transmission tower; rail line;
recreation centre for women; religious centre; repair shop; research
centre; residence; rice growing; rifle club; rifle range; rural
residence; sawmilling; seafarers' centre; service station; ship's
chandlery; ship maintenance facility; shop; showroom; slaughter
yard; slipway; sports club; sports complex; sports field, pitch,
stadium or oval; sports ground; stockyard; storage of boats; store;
studio; surgery; swimming club; swimming pool; tank sinking plant;
tannery; tennis club; tennis court; theatre; tour base; tourist camel
farm; tourist theme park or facility; transport depot; tree farming;
tropical agriculture; vineyard; viticulture; warehouse; water
treatment plant; welfare centre; wholesale outlet; wireless station;
wood yard; wool scouring; workshop.
Schedule 2 Scheduled interests in Territory
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 17
(2) A miscellaneous lease of garden land under section 73A of the
Crown Lands Ordinance 1924 of the Commonwealth, section 69 of
the Crown Lands Ordinance 1927 (Territory of North Australia) of
the Commonwealth, section 69 of the Crown Lands
Ordinance 1927 (Territory of Central Australia) of the
Commonwealth or section 70 of the Crown Lands Act 1931-1991.
5. OTHER LEASES
(1) A lease under section 30 or 81 of the Northern Territory Land
Act 1872 of South Australia.
(2) A lease under section 30 or 77 of the Northern Territory Crown
Lands Consolidation Act 1882 of South Australia.
(3) A lease under Part II of the Northern Territory Crown Lands
Act 1890 of South Australia.
(4) A lease under section 54 of the Northern Territory Crown Lands
Act 1890 of South Australia.
(5) A lease under section 78 of the Northern Territory Crown Lands
Act 1890 of South Australia that permits the lessee to use the land
or waters covered by the lease solely or primarily for the purposes
mentioned in subsection III, V, VIII, IX or X of that section or
subsection II or III of section 81 of that Act.
(6) A lease under section 6A of the Crown Lands Act 1931-1991.
(7) A lease under paragraph 23(b) or (c) of the Crown Lands
Act 1931-1991, or a Crown lease under paragraph 26(a) or (b) of
the Crown Lands Act 1992, that permits the lessee to use the land
or waters covered by the lease solely or primarily for any of the
following purposes:
aerial sports academy; agricultural and mixed farming; agricultural
development and marketing; agricultural farm and garden;
agriculture; aircraft landing strip; airstrip; ambulance headquarters;
amphitheatre; animal husbandry centre; aquatic entertainment
centre; archery club; archery complex; archery range; art gallery;
ash disposal pond; aviary; aviation; aviation historical society;
banana plantation; basketball club; basketball court; beacon site;
bitumen plant; boat landing facility; boatyard; bombing range;
bowhunting club; bowhunting range; bowling club; bowling green;
brick factory; brick yard; building or repairing boats; bus depot; bus
terminal; cannery; car park; car repair shop; car sales yard; car
storage and parking; caravan park; cargo storage; cashew
production; cement plant; cereal crops; child care centre; children's
playground; church; church hall; cinema; club; club hall; club room;
clubhouse; coach terminal; college; commercial building
Schedule 2 Scheduled interests in Territory
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 18
development; commercial cropping; commercial property
subdivision; community centre; community hall; community storage;
compressor station; convention centre; council complex; council
depot; council office; council works yard; court house; creche;
crematorium; cricket club; cricket ground; crocodile research facility;
cropping; crops; croquet club; croquet pitch; crushing plant;
cultivation; cultural centre; Country Women's Association rest
rooms; dairy; dam; day care centre; depot; development of tourist
accommodation and facilities; disposal of dangerous goods; dog
breeding; dressage-safe riding area; drive-in theatre; dry cleaners;
dump; effluent disposal; equestrian centre; equestrian club;
equestrian field; factory; feed hay agriculture; feed lot yard; fire
station; fodder mill; football club; football ground; freight storage;
fuel depot; funeral home; funeral parlour; game fishing club; game
safari base; gaol; garbage dump; gas storage facility; Girl Guides
cabin accommodation; Girl Guides hall; golf club; golf course; guest
house; Guide hall; hall; hay production; hazardous industrial
development; headquarters; health centre; health clinic; helicopter
base; herb farm; Hindu temple; historic railway; hockey club;
hockey pitch; holiday accommodation and facilities; homestead;
horse and pony club; horse stable; horse yard; horticulture;
hospital; hostel; hotel; indoor recreation; industrial development;
industrial development on waterfront; industrial purposes; industrial
subdivision; inn; Islamic centre; kennel; kiln; laboratory; land-based
aquaculture; land-based commercial prawn farm; land-based fish
culture; landscaping supply depot; library; lodge room; mango farm;
manufacturing; marina; market gardening; medical centre; meeting
room; motel; motor racing circuit; motor sports; motorcross circuit or
track; municipal depot; museum; netball club; netball court; nursery;
nursing home; office; on-shore fishing base; on-shore houseboat
base; on-shore tour boat base; optical fibre regenerator site;
orchard; orchid nursery; oval; permanent construction camp
accommodation; pharmacy; picture theatre; pistol club; pistol range;
polocrosse club; polocrosse field; pony club; pony field; port-related
industry; post office; pound; private sports club; protection of
heritage building; public car park; racecourse; racing club; radio
broadcast aerial station; radio repeater; radio tower; radio
transmission tower; railway; rail line; Red Cross centre; refuse tip;
research centre; residential development; residential purposes;
residential subdivision; resource centre; restaurant; restoration of
police station; retail shop; retirement village; rice growing; rifle club;
rifle range; roadhouse; rural residence; sailing club; satellite
receiving station; school; scientific research centre; Scout hall;
seafarers' centre; seed production; senior citizens' centre; service
station; sheltered workshop; ship's chandlery; ship maintenance
facility; shop; shopping complex; showground; showroom;
silviculture; slipway; social club; solid waste disposal facility; sports
club; sports complex; sports field, pitch, stadium or oval; sports
Schedule 2 Scheduled interests in Territory
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 19
ground; sports training ground; stable; stock fodder production;
stockyard; storage; storage of boats; studio; supermarket; surf life
saving club; surgery; swimming club; swimming pool; table grape
growing; tavern; temple; tennis club; tennis court; theatre; timber
mill; tour base; tourist camel farm; tourist facilities; tourist
information centre; tourist lodge; tourist theme park or facility; tower
construction; transport depot; transport terminal; trucking yard; units
for aged persons; university; vegetable production; vehicle sales
yard; vehicle storage; warehouse; water retention basin; water
treatment plant; wayside inn; weather station; wharf; wholesale
outlet; women's refuge; workshop; yacht association; yacht club;
youth centre; youth club; zoo.
(8) A lease under section 68A, 68B, 68C, 68D, 68E, 68F, 68G or 68H
of the Crown Lands Act 1931-1991.
(9) A lease under section 112A of the Crown Lands Act 1931-1991.
(10) A lease under section 2 of the Darwin Leases (Special Purposes)
Ordinance 1946 of the Commonwealth or section 3 of the Darwin
Short Term Leases Ordinance 1946 of the Commonwealth.
(11) A lease under section 3 of the Church Lands Leases
Ordinance 1947 of the Commonwealth.
(12) A lease under section 4 or 29A of the Darwin Town Area Leases
Act 1947-1979.
(13) A lease under section 16A, 16AA, 16B, 16C or 16D of the Darwin
Town Area Leases Act 1947-1979.
(14) A lease under section 5 of the Crown Lands Act 1992.
Schedule 3 Previous non-exclusive possession acts
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 20
Schedule 3 Previous non-exclusive possession acts
section 3B
1. An act is a previous non-exclusive possession act if:
(a) it is valid (including because of Division 2 or 2A of Part 2 of the
Commonwealth Act);
(b) it takes place on or before 23 December 1996; and
(c) it consists of the grant of a non-exclusive agricultural lease or
a non-exclusive pastoral lease.
2. An act is also a previous non-exclusive possession act if:
(a) it takes place after 23 December 1996;
(b) it would be a previous non-exclusive possession act under
clause 1 if that clause were not limited in its application to acts
taking place on or before 23 December 1996; and
(c) it takes place:
(i) in exercise of a legally enforceable right created by any
act done on or before 23 December 1996; or
(ii) in good faith in giving effect to, or otherwise because of,
an offer, commitment, arrangement or undertaking made
or given in good faith on or before 23 December 1996,
and of which there is written evidence created at or
about the time the offer, commitment, arrangement or
undertaking was made.
3. An act is not a previous non-exclusive possession act if regulations
under the Commonwealth Act provide that the act is not a previous
non-exclusive possession act.
ENDNOTES
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 21
ENDNOTES
1 KEY
Key to abbreviations
amd = amended od = order
app = appendix om = omitted
bl = by-law pt = Part
ch = Chapter r = regulation/rule
cl = clause rem = remainder
div = Division renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired rep = repealed
f = forms s = section
Gaz = Gazette sch = Schedule
hdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision
ins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation
lt = long title sub = substituted
nc = not commenced
2 LIST OF LEGISLATION
Validation of Titles and Actions Act 1994 (Act No. 2, 1994)
Assent date 10 March 1998
Commenced 10 March 1998
Validation of Titles and Actions Amendment Act 1998 (Act No. 55, 1998)
Assent date 28 August 1998
Commenced 1 October 1998 (Gaz S37, 1 October 1998)
Lands and Mining (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1998 (Act No. 93, 1998)
Assent date 23 December 1998
Commenced 1 October 1998 (s 2)
Statute Law Revision Act 1999 (Act No. 27, 1999)
Assent date 18 June 1999
Commenced 18 June 1999
3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS
General amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table
of amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation
Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: s 1 and sch 2 .
4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS
lt sub No. 55, 1998, s 4; No. 93, 1998, s 262
s 1 sub No. 55, 1998, s 5
ss 3A – 3C ins No. 55, 1998, s 6
pt 2 hdg sub No. 55, 1998, s 7
s 4A ins No. 55, 1998, s 8
s 4B ins No. 55, 1998, s 8
rep No. 93, 1998, s 263
s 4C ins No. 55, 1998, s 8
ENDNOTES
Validation (Native Title) Act 1994 22
rep No. 93, 1998, s 263
pt 3 hdg sub No. 55, 1998, s 9
s 4D ins No. 55, 1998, s 10
pt 3A hdg ins No. 55, 1998, s 11
ss 9A – 9E ins No. 55, 1998, s 11
s 9F ins No. 55, 1998, s 11
sub No. 93, 1998, s 264
pt 3B hdg ins No. 55, 1998, s 11
s 9G ins No. 55, 1998, s 11
amd No. 93, 1998, s 265
ss 9H – 9J ins No. 55, 1998, s 11
ss 9JA – 9JB ins No. 93, 1998, s 266
pt 3C hdg ins No. 55, 1998, s 11
s 9K ins No. 55, 1998, s 11
amd No. 93, 1998, s 267
ss 9L – 9N ins No. 55, 1998, s 11
s 9NA ins No. 93, 1998, s 268
s 11 amd No. 55, 1998, s 12
s 13 amd No. 93, 1998, s 269
sch 1 ins No. 55, 1998, s 13
amd No. 27, 1999, s 15
sch 2 – 3 ins No. 55, 1998, s 13