Amendments to the Native Title Act: recent changes and the process for future reforms

On 2 February, the Full Federal Court handed down its decision in McGlade v Native Title Registrar. The decision has created uncertainty for approximately 120 registered Native Title agreements (Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA)) because they had not been signed by all of the representatives of the claim group. In response, on 15 February 2017 the Government introduced the Native Title Amendment (Indigenous Land Use Agreements) Bill 2017. The Bill states that agreements made on or before the court decision are valid ILUAs. The Bill’s amendments also allow claim groups to choose in future which of their representatives need to sign agreements.

This presentation will provide an overview of the operation of the Native Title Amendment (Indigenous Land Use Agreements) Bill 2017. 

The presentation will also provide information about ways of developing and consulting on potential future reforms to the Native Title Act arising from the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Connection to Country report and the COAG Investigation into Indigenous Land Use and Administration.