National Native Title Tribunal facts for kids
The National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) is an important group in Australia. It was set up in 1993 by a special law called the Native Title Act 1993. Its main job is to help protect and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who are Australia's first peoples. The NNTT also helps manage and process requests for native title in Australia. Native title means the special rights and interests that Indigenous Australians have had over their traditional lands and waters for a very long time.
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What the NNTT Does
The National Native Title Tribunal has a President and other Members. These people are chosen by the Governor-General of Australia. Their job is to make decisions, look into issues, and help different groups talk things through. They assist people with native title requests and with agreements about how land is used. These agreements are called Indigenous land use agreements (ILUAs).
The NNTT also has a Native Title Registrar. This person is also chosen by the Governor-General. All the people working at the Tribunal have special jobs and duties under the law.
How the NNTT Works
The NNTT is a government agency. It helps people reach agreements about native title. The Federal Court of Australia is the court that decides if native title exists or not. Since July 2012, the Federal Court has also helped manage the NNTT's daily operations. The President and Members of the Tribunal, with help from the Registrar, manage the NNTT's business.
Who Leads the NNTT
The President is in charge of running the Tribunal. The Governor-General chooses the President and other Members for up to five years.
The Members of the Tribunal help by:
- Giving assistance and information.
- Helping people understand native title and its rules.
- Working on Indigenous land use agreements.
- Dealing with future act hearings and processes.
The Registrar has special duties under the Native Title Act 1993. This person is also responsible for managing the NNTT's employees.
Main Jobs of the Tribunal
The Tribunal has several important roles:
- It helps groups agree on new activities or developments. These are called future acts. The Tribunal can also make decisions about these matters.
- It checks all new native title claims. Claims must meet certain rules to get special rights over the land.
- It tells the public when native title claims are registered. This means putting ads in newspapers. They also send letters to people and groups with an interest in the area.
- It keeps three important lists of information about native title in Australia. These are the Register of Native Title Claims, the National Native Title Register, and the Register of Indigenous Land Use Agreements.
- It helps negotiate other types of agreements. An example is the Indigenous Land Use Agreements.
If someone asks, the Tribunal can also give help and information. This is for anyone involved in the native title process.
Where to Find the NNTT
The Tribunal has offices in several cities. You can find them in Perth, Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne.
Groups Helping with Native Title
When an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander group makes a claim, they are first called a prescribed body corporate (PBC). Once their native title is officially decided, they become a Registered Native Title Body Corporate, or RNTBC. These RNTBCs are registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC).
A "representative Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander body," or RATSIB, is a group recognized by the government. Their job is to represent native title holders. They also talk with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a specific area. There are many native title representative bodies (NTRBs) and native title service providers (NTSPs). These groups help people who are claiming or holding native title. The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) helps fund 14 of these groups. This includes land councils and RNTBCs.
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