- Drafting of the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972 Amendment Bill and Regulations underway
- Bill to remove barriers to divestment of Aboriginal Lands Trust land
- Extensive stakeholder engagement undertaken to help shape Bill that supports community outcomes
The Cook Government is cutting red tape to enable Native Title land to transition directly to Aboriginal people and organisations, supporting stronger social, cultural and economic outcomes for Aboriginal communities.
New legislation is being developed to modernise the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972 (AAPA Act) by removing longstanding barriers to the divestment of Aboriginal land held by the Aboriginal Lands Trust (ALT) and the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority.
The ALT estate comprises 285 properties covering around 21.9 million hectares, or 8.7 per cent of Western Australia's landmass.
The proposed amendments will apply only to land within the ALT estate, the majority of which is determined or claimed as Native Title land.
The Amendment Bill and accompanying Regulations propose aligning the Act's objectives with the Commonwealth Native Title Act 1993.
The divestmentfocused reforms also aim to streamline administration, update terminology, strengthen enforcement and clarify the ALT's consultation responsibilities.
The Bill will additionally allow for the divestment of Part III reserved lands to Aboriginal entities, empowering these entities to issue access permits for divested land in line with the State's Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy and the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
These amendments are informed by comprehensive community engagement, including more than 25 targeted consultation sessions held across the State, and ongoing feedback from Aboriginal stakeholders through the ALT divestment program since 2017.
Further engagement with stakeholders will continue in the coming weeks as drafting progresses.
For more information and updates on upcoming consultation, visit www.wa.gov.au/government/document-collections/aboriginal-affairs-planning-authority-act-1972
As stated by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch:
"Modernising the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act will remove longstanding barriers to the divestment of Aboriginal land and strengthen pathways for communities to manage Country.
"These reforms create a contemporary framework that aligns with national commitments to Aboriginal empowerment and supports stronger cultural, social and economic outcomes.
"By prioritising this legislation, we are also delivering a key election commitment, and I thank stakeholders for their valued and meaningful engagement throughout this modernisation process."
