As discussed in our last newsletter, 2013 marks thirty years since the passing of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW). This anniversary coincides with the end of a five yearly review of the operation of the Act. On 18 September 2013 the Aboriginal Land Rights Amendment Bill 2013 (NSW) was given Royal Assent. As the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs revealed in his second reading speech, the amending legislation "is the first instalment of a bigger project to more fully realise the potential of the Act."
The legislation makes technical rather than substantive amendments to the 1983 Act. For example changes are made to the process of advertising staff vacancies at Aboriginal land councils and to the qualifications an applicant must have for such a position. Some changes set out the number of required meetings a person must have attended to be eligible to stand for election to the board of members of land councils, while others empower a land council to delegate functions to the CEO who in turn may delegate functions to staff members.
While, the State opposition spoke in support of the proposed amendments, the Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Linda Burney found it ironic to be supportive of the changes in 2013, remembering that she was "one of the protesters on the street" outside Parliament House on the day the principal Act was passed in 2013.
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