NEW SOUTH WALES ABORIGINAL LAND COUNCIL LODGE COMPLAINT WITH THE AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ON CROWN LANDS BILL

The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) has formally lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) regarding the Crown Land Management Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill 2026 (the Bill). 

The complaint, lodged on Tuesday, 14 April, raised a number of serious concerns, arguing that the Bill directly undermines Aboriginal land rights in NSW established under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) (ALRA); rights held exclusively by Aboriginal people in the State. 

NSWALC contends that the proposed changes are racially discriminatory, citing the disproportionate impact on Aboriginal land holdings and the complete lack of consultation with the Land Rights network prior to the Bill’s introduction. In summary, the NSWALC complaint details: 

• The Bill undermines Aboriginal land rights under the ALRA, which are rights held only by Aboriginal people. Any weakening of the system has a disproportionate and discriminatory impact. 
• NSWALC and LALCs were not consulted at any stage before the Bill’s introduction on 17 March, despite what would have been a lengthy Cabinet development process.
• The State Government has described the changes as “minor” or “technical”, which we say is misleading given the real and substantive impact on land claims and land return; and
• The way the Bill has been publicly framed has contributed to misunderstandings about land rights and increased scrutiny of LALCs. 

NSWALC Chair, Dr Raymond Kelly, said the complaint being lodged represents the State Land Council taking this malicious amendment to the next level. 

“We will simply not just sit by while our State Government proposes amendments that will hollow out our Rights in this state forever,” Chair Kelly said. 

“We have been working to support our people through Aboriginal Land Rights in NSW for more than 40 years, and that work doesn't stop here. The way this Bill was introduced was completely unacceptable and without consultation under the guise of a “minor amendment”. 

“Aboriginal people living in NSW are not shocked at this level of mistreatment from the Government… We have experienced it for generations. But the direct impact this Bill will have on our community is proof that our Government will stop at nothing when their own interests are at stake. The reality is that what is at stake for our people is far worse.”

As the peak statutory body representing 121 Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) across the State, NSWALC maintains a direct interest in any legislative decisions affecting land justice and the Aboriginal Land Rights Network and acts on behalf of the wider Network on these matters. 

NSWALC argues via the complaint that being excluded in its entirety from the decision-making process before the Bill’s introduction on 17 March 2026 contributes to a broader environment of racial inequality and hostility. 

NSWALC also argues that the actions made by the State Government directly result in Aboriginal people being unable to enjoy property rights on an equal basis with others because their specific rights are uniquely constrained. The Government’s public characterisation of these changes as "minor" or "technical" provides a misleading indication of their real-world impact. 

“While the Bill has been delayed for further consultation, we know the Government will stop at nothing to sneak this Bill through in May. We want to be clear that the Network remains united in our complete opposition to the Bill in its entirety,” said Chair Kelly. 

“The Bill represents a substantial threat to the land claim and land return process, weakening a system designed to provide economic and cultural redress for Aboriginal communities”. 

“By excluding NSWALC and failing to engage in genuine consultation, the NSW Government is quietly removing the power of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act”. 

“As the body representing the Network, we want to make it clear that our rights are under attack. This is an official complaint to the Human Rights Commission, and we demand that action be taken”. 

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