Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Aboriginal Land Legislation Amendment Bill 2024

Introduction and first reading

Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Jobs and Industry, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Women) (12:06): I move:

That I introduce a bill for an act to amend the Aboriginal Lands Act 1970 and the Aboriginal Lands Act 1991 and for other purposes.

Motion agreed to.

Peter WALSH (Murray Plains) (12:07): Could I ask the minister for a brief explanation, please.

Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham – Minister for Jobs and Industry, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Minister for Women) (12:07): The Aboriginal Land Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 will deliver long-overdue amendments to two important pieces of land rights legislation in Victoria – the Aboriginal Lands Act 1970 and the Aboriginal Lands Act 1991.

The amendments to the 1970 act implement the first of 22 legislative recommendations from an independent review of the act that was completed in 2021, and these changes will improve the governance arrangements at the Lake Tyers and Framlingham Aboriginal trusts. The second set of amendments, to the 1991 act, will implement all recommendations from the act’s review after extensive consultation with titleholders and traditional owners over three Aboriginal burial sites at the former Coranderrk, Ebenezer and Ramahyuck missions.

Read first time.

Ordered to be read second time tomorrow.