The Local Aboriginal Land Council is bound by the key legislative requirements which determine the objects and functions of a Local Aboriginal Land Council as contained in the amended Aboriginal Land Rights Act (ALRA). The ALRA states that the objects of each Local Aboriginal Land Council are to “improve, protect and foster the best interests of all Aboriginal persons within the Council’s area and
other persons who are members of the Council”. The functions of the Land Council include:
Make claims on vacant crown land;
Acquire land and to use, manage, control, hold or dispose of, or otherwise deal with, land vested in or acquired by the Council;
Protect the interests of Aboriginal persons in its area in relation to the acquisition, management, use, control and disposal of land;
Take action to protect the culture and heritage of Aboriginal persons in the Council’s area, subject to any other law;
Promote awareness in the community of the culture and heritage of Aboriginal persons in the Council’s area;
Prepare and implement, in accordance with the Act, a community, land and business plan;
Manage, in accordance with the Act and consistently with its community, land and business plan, the investment of any assets of the Council;
Facilitate business enterprise in accordance with the Act, and the regulations, and consistently with the community, land and business plan;
Directly, or indirectly, provide community benefits under the community benefits scheme;
Provide, acquire, upgrade or extend residential accommodation for Aboriginal persons within its area;
Establish or participate in the establishment of, a trust for the purpose of providing a community benefits scheme.
