Central Land Council
in this section
CLC Press Releases
- 18 December 2008
- Senate see sense over waste dump ›› more
- 28 October 2008
- Devils Marbles handed back to traditional owners ›› more
- 27 October 2008
- Tanami Regional Partnership Agreement ›› more
- 27 October 2008
- Warlpiri use royalties to build Yuendumu Pool ›› more
- 15 October 2008
- Minister looks for distraction ›› more
- 14 October 2008
- CLC response to NTER review ›› more
- 14 August 2008 2008
- Communities have their say on intervention ›› more
- 31 July 2008 2008
- Fairfax news in bad taste ›› more
- 24 July 2008 2008
- election: accountability needed ›› more
- 17 July 2008 2008
- Royal commission needed into NT funding ›› more
- 11 July 2008 2008
- Simpson Desert: the last land rights claim under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act ›› more
- 8 July 2008 2008
- Sacred site damage at Wilora ›› more
- 30 May 2008
- Seal the Mereenie Loop Road Now ›› more
- 27 May 2008
- Angela Pamela Negotiations ›› more
- 9 May 2008
- Angela Pamela and the native title process ›› more
- 18 February 2008
- Coalition should support permit system ›› more
- 15 February 2008
- Politicians threaten to derail fresh start ›› more
- 22 January 2008
- Police ignorance upsets Lajamanu community ›› more
- 26 November 2007
- Optimism for a fresh consensual approach on Aboriginal affairs ›› more
- 21 November 2007
- Concerns over Central Petroleum tactics ›› more
CLC: Coalition should support permit system
The Central Land Council says that changes to the permit system come into effect today on communities on Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory.
The previous Australian government made changes to how permits apply inside communities.
The main changes are that permits are not required to enter ‘common areas' (areas generally considered to be public space), or to attend a court case, inside communities.
The new Australian government's policy is to abolish these changes but allow permit-free access for journalists and contractors through legislation.
CLC Director David Ross said that at this stage it is not clear when that legislation will be introduced or what the details of it are.
“Changes to the permit system were one of the strongest objections Aboriginal people had to the intervention last year. If we are to move forward with a fresh start, it is essential their views are respected,” Mr Ross said.
“Therefore we are asking that the Coalition to do the decent thing and support legislation that will retain the permit system,” he said.
During this interim period, the CLC requests that all visitors to Aboriginal land comply with the CLC's permit system, notwithstanding that the legal position has changed with regard to certain community access.
Regardless of any government changes, a permit is legally required to visit any Aboriginal land outside of communities.
The CLC thanks all visitors for cooperation with this request of traditional owners to continue to follow the principle of asking permission before entering Aboriginal land.
Map available: http://www.clc.org.au/permits/Map.pdf
Contact Jane Hodson 0417877579
18 February 2008