The bill will amend the Wilderness Act 1987 and the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 with respect to the management of wilderness areas.
Currently the National Parks and Wildlife Act provides for the conservation of objects, places and features that are of significance to Aboriginal people. The Act makes it an offence to harm or desecrate an Aboriginal object or place. S71BI ensures that native title rights and interests in relation to approved determinations of native tile on Aboriginal land under the National Parks and Wildlife Act must also be preserved. This complements s23B(9A) of the Native Title Act which ensures that native title is not extinguished by the creation of national parks or other environmental protection areas.
Currently s10(2A) of the Wilderness Act 1987 provides that the Minister must not enter into a wilderness protection agreement relating to land owned by a Local Aboriginal Land Council unless the NSWALC has consented in writing to the agreement.