The Finocchiaro CLP Government has tonight passed the Northern Territory (NT) Aboriginal Sacred Sites Amendment Bill 2025 in Parliament.
It delivers a suite of reforms to improve the operation of the NT Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1989 (the Act).
The amendments ensure the Act, and the Regulation, are contemporary and remain effective in achieving their purpose.
The amendments include three key changes:
Formalisation of the existing composition of the members of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (the Authority) Board: This will ensure continued strong representation of Traditional Owners, along with additional expertise in development and governance.Transferring and adding parties to Authority Certificates: This allows for existing certificates to be transferred, or have additional parties added, as long as the proposed work and use of the land are the same, and all existing conditions in protecting the sacred sites remain unchanged.Enforceable undertakings: Enforceable undertakings will provide the additional tools to make people remediate damages to sacred sites, rather than prosecuting people through the court process, which can be costly and time consuming. If the promise to remediate is not kept, legal consequences will follow.
Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment Joshua Burgoyne said the reforms ensured the legislation reflected modern regulatory standards while continuing to strengthen protection of sacred sites.
"The cultural authority of custodians remains central, and the amendments will provide much needed clarity and simpler, streamlined approval processes, while ensuring the protection of sacred sites remains paramount," said Mr Burgoyne.
Romy Carey, CEO of the NT Cattlemen's Association said: "The NTCA welcomes these legislative amendments as a constructive step toward delivering greater clarity, efficiency, and confidence for the pastoral industry."
"Enhancing the transferability of authority certificates and reducing regulatory duplication will provide landholders with the certainty they need to invest and develop responsibly across the Territory," said Ms Carey.
Additional amendments to the NT Aboriginal Sacred Sites Regulations 2004 are also being progressed in line with updates to the Act, including a tiered fee structure and infringement scheme.
