The backlog of undetermined land claims in the state has become a significant problem for the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC).

Although the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (ALRA) sought to compensate for centuries of dispossession, Local Aboriginal Land Councils have been waiting decades for claims to be addressed, and land to be returned. According to the NSWALC, the oldest undetermined land claim dates back to 1984, a year after the ALRA was established.

Fortunately, the NSW State government’s recent commitment to addressing these undetermined claims will provide a sense of hope for the NSWALC.

Image: Image: Shutterstock – ChameleonsEye

Produced By: Isabella Rosenberg

Featured In Story: Cr Charles Lynch – NSW Aboriginal Land Council

First aired on The Wire, Tuesday 19 September 2023