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Aboriginal Land Act 1991 (Qld)

Category: Legislation
Binomial Name: State of Queensland
Sub Category:Legislation
Place:
State/Country:Queensland, Australia
URL: http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/A/AborLandA91.pdf
Summary Information:
The Aboriginal Land Act 1991 (Qld) (the Act) was passed along with the Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991 (Qld) in order to provide mechanisms for land to be granted to groups of Indigenous people in Queensland. The Act acknowledges the dispossession of Indigenous people and the effects of past injustices. It expresses Parliament's recognition of the spiritual, social, historical, cultural and economic importance of land to Indigenous people and that these interests have not been adequately recognised by the law. The Act expresses Parliament's agreement that special measures need to be enacted to ensure the advancement of the interests of Indigenous people and to rectify the effects of past injustices. The object of the Act therefore, is to make provision for the appropriate recognition of interests and responsibilities of Indigenous people in relation to land, and to thereby encourage the 'capacity for self-development, and the self-reliance and cultural integrity, of the Aboriginal people of Queensland.' Two principal mechanisms are established under the Act: transfers of transferable land and grants of claimable land.

A grant of transferable land occurs where ownership of land is transferred from a trustee (usually a government department or community council) to a group of Aboriginal people as trustees to hold the land for the benefit of Aboriginal people who are particularly concerned with the land (that is, who are connected to the land by tradition or custom, or who live on or use the land or neighbouring land). Only specified categories of land may be transferred. Land which is capable of transfer under the Act is:

- Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT) land;
- Aboriginal reserve land;
- Aurukun Shire lease land;
- Mornington Island Shire lease land; and
- available Crown land declared by regulation to be transferable land.

A grant of claimable land occurs where a group of Aboriginal people successfully claims land set aside by the government as claimable land. A claim may be brought on the grounds of a traditional or customary affiliation to the land; an historical association to the land; or on the basis of economic or cultural viability (where granting the claim would assist in restoring, maintaining or enhancing the capacity for self-development, and the self reliance and cultural integrity, of the group). Land which is claimable under the Act is:

- available Crown land declared by regulation to be claimable land; and
- Aboriginal land that is transferred land.

Claims are heard by the Land Tribunal established under the Act, which recommends to the Minister whether or not land should be granted.

When Aboriginal people obtain ownership of land under the Act, either through a transfer or a grant, they become grantees of the land and a Land Trust automatically arises. The Land Trust, a body corporate of which the grantees are members, becomes the owner of the land. It holds the land on trust for the benefit of Aboriginal people, their ancestors and descendants. Generally, the title to the land is freehold (except in special circumstances where a lease is issued), subject to a very significant set of restrictions on dealings with it.

The Act, along with the Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991 (Qld), is currently under review by the Queensland government. See the links below to the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water Issues Paper (August 2004), which identifies policy issues relating to proposed amendments, and Discussion Paper (March 2005), which outlines options for addressing the identified issues.

Related Entries

  • Western Yalanji or Sunset Peoples v Alan & Karen Pedersen & Ors [1998] FCA 1269 (28 September 1998)
  • Hopevale Heads of Agreement
  • Land Tenure Agreement between the State of Queensland, the Western Yalanji People, and Alan and Karen Pedersen
  • Cloncurry Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Woppaburra 'Woppaburra' Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA)
  • Lilyvale Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Running Creek Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Kowanyama People - Child Safe House Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Ergon Energy and Girramay Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Gunggari People Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • KULLA (McIlwraith Range & Mt Croll) Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Rindoparr Area B Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Kalinga Mulkay Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Errk Oykangand National Park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land) Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Marpa National Park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land) Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Yarrabah DOGIT Transfer Indigenous Land Use Agreement
  • Yarrabah Blockholders Indigenous Land Use Agreement
  • Hopevale Congress Aboriginal Corporation Body Corporate Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Aplin on behalf of the Pitta Pitta People v State of Queensland [2012] FCA 883
  • Oyala Thumotang National Park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land) and adjacent Aboriginal Land Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Indjalandji-Dhidhanu People and Local Government Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Hopevale Congress Aboriginal Corporation - Social Housing Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Seven National Parks Bama-Bi Bubu Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Thingalkal (Mary Valley) Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Olkola Land Transfer Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Brooks on behalf of the Mamu People v State of Queensland (No 4) [2013] FCA 1453
  • Wuthathi Land Transfer Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Darumbal People Tenure Resolution Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Girramay People Tenure Resolution Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Eromanga Township Tenure Resolution Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Sandstone East Land Transfer Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Wulli Wulli People Revenue Sharing Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Nywaigi People Tenure Resolution Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Gulngay People Tenure Resolution Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Mardigan People Claim Resolution Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Daintree Handback
  • Ross on behalf of the Cape York United #1 Claim Group v State of Queensland (No 3) [2021] FCA 1465
  • Iron Range, Portland Roads and Islands Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
  • Organisation
  • Wunthulpu Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Burrgirrku Land Trust
  • Wulburjubur Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Wirrari Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Murilgal Land Trust
  • Ngana Bubu Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Mantaka Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Gurrungga Bulmba Land Trust
  • Injinoo Land Trust
  • Gurridi Traditional Land Trust
  • Ngulun Land Trust
  • Koah Land Trust
  • Wakooka Land Trust
  • Waibene Land Trust
  • Gooliwana Bana Land Trust
  • Gummingurru Land Trust
  • KULLA Land Trust
  • Imjim Land Trust
  • Mangkuma Land Trust
  • Pul Pul Land Trust
  • Binda Wawubaja Land Trust
  • Darrba Land Trust
  • State of Queensland
  • Cape York Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
  • Bwgaman Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Mitakoodi Juhnjlar Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Pitta Ngaru Land Trust
  • Yintjingga Land Trust
  • Wangetti Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Wathada Land Trust
  • Mungana Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Kudjala Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Tagalaka Croydon Reserve Land Trust
  • Bidunggu Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Yerunthully Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Wuthathi Land Trust
  • Kaiadilt Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Alluna Land Trust
  • Wakka Wakka People Traditional Owners' Land Trust
  • Kaurareg Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Gumbil-Badan Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Normanton Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Indjilandji Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Peppan Land Trust
  • Ngaarrkinaba/Mildiji Land Trust
  • Agayrra - Timara Land Trust
  • Nunee Binbee Land Trust
  • Kamilaroi Land Trust
  • Ewamin Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Muluridji Land Trust
  • Ngadjon - Ji Aboriginal Land Trust
  • Binthi Land Holding Group Aboriginal Corporation
  • Legislation
  • Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991 (Qld)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Providing Freehold) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2015 (Qld)
  • Place
  • Lama Lama National Park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land)
  • KULLA (McIlwraith Range) National Park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land)

  • References

    Resource
    Queensland Government, Department of Natural Resources and Mines (2004) Issues Paper: Review of the Aboriginal Land Act 1991 (Qld) and the Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991 (Qld)
    Queensland Government, Department of Natural Resources and Mines (2005) Discussion Paper: Review of the Aboriginal Land Act 1991 (Qld)

    Glossary

    Legislation | Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT) (Australia)

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