[1] Pastoral leases exist in both Australian commonwealth law and state jurisdictions.
They do not give all the rights that attach to freehold land: there are usually conditions which include a time period and the type of activity permitted.
According to Austrade, such leases cover about 44% of mainland Australia (3,380,000 km2 (1,310,000 sq mi)), mostly in arid and semi-arid regions and the tropical savannahs.
Under Commonwealth of Australia law, applicable only in the Northern Territory, they are agreements that allow for the use of Crown land by farmers.
[2] Australian jurisdictions have land management legislation that affects the administration of pastoral leases.