Aboriginal land councils in the Northern Territory are representative bodies known as land councils, covering four areas of Aboriginal self-governance in the Northern Territory of Australia.
There are four land councils in the Northern Territory:[1] The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 established the basis upon which Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory could, for the first time, claim rights to land based on traditional occupation.
[6] The land councils are representative bodies with statutory authority under the Act.
They are administered through distribution of 40% of the annual royalties collected as part of the Aboriginals Benefit Account.
[7] The Northern Territory Emergency Response provided for the Commonwealth Government to compulsorily acquire five-year leases of townships currently held under the title provisions of the Native Title Act 1993, though with compensation on a basis other than just terms.