Deed of Grant in Trust facts for kids

A Deed of Grant in Trust (often called DOGIT) is a special way that land is managed for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland, Australia. It's like a community-level land trust. This system was set up to look after land that used to be Aboriginal reserves or missions.

DOGITs were created by the Queensland Government in 1984. This happened through two important laws: the Community Services (Torres Strait) Act 1984 and the Community Services (Aborigines) Act 1984. These laws allowed community councils to be formed. These councils could then own and manage the former reserves or missions under a Deed of Grant in Trust.

How DOGITs Work

The land trusts are managed by local people. These people are chosen in elections every three years. They form councils called Incorporated Aboriginal Councils. These councils have several important jobs:

• They can make local rules, called by-laws.
• They can appoint police for their community.
• They are in charge of keeping houses and other buildings in good condition.
• They run programs like the Community Development Employment Program.
• They give out permits for hunting, fishing, and camping.

These councils work a lot like a local government. However, they are different because they actually own the land they manage. They hold this land for the benefit of the whole community.

History of DOGITs

Most of the Torres Strait Islands started using DOGIT arrangements in October 1985. One important exception was Mer Island. This island became famous because of the Mabo No.1 (1988) and No.2 (1992) court cases. These cases were very important for Indigenous land rights in Australia.

The first Aboriginal community to get a DOGIT was Hope Vale on 27 July 1986. After that, many more DOGIT communities were set up. Most of these are found in the Cape York Peninsula, the Torres Strait Islands, and the Carpentaria areas.

In 2004, a new law was passed: the Local Government (Community Government Areas) Act 2004. This law gave community councils many of the same benefits and rules that regular shire councils have.

Since 1 January 2015, some DOGIT communities have been able to change how their land is owned. If their land is considered "urban" or "future urban," they can convert parts of it. This means the land can become either Aboriginal freehold or Torres Strait Islander freehold title. This gives communities more direct ownership of their land.

DOGIT Communities in Queensland

Here is a list of communities in Queensland that are managed under the DOGIT system.

See also

• Indigenous land rights in Australia