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	Aboriginal Law Bulletin

NT Aboriginal Areas Protection Bill

The NT Government's Aboriginal Areas Protection Bill (see [1989] AboriginalLB 13; 2(37)pg2) was extensively amended as it passed through the Legislative Assembly late in May. It goes on the statute books as the Sacred Sites Act 1989 - a significant cosmetic victory for opponents of the bill - but the Aboriginal Sacred Sites Protection Authority will become the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority, as originally planned.

Under the new legislation:

• The Authority will continue to keep and extend a register of sites, but registration will now be prima facie evidence that a site is sacred.
• The Authority will now have a right of access to sites on pastoral properties.
• Interested persons may apply for a sites clearance from the Authority; if refused, they may apply to the Minister who will be able, after reviewing the material on which the Authority based its decision to issue a clearance, but he will have to give reasons.
• The post of Director will be abolished and replaced by a Chief Executive Officer appointed by the Minister (the Director was appointed by and answerable to the Authority).
• Site declarations, as distinct from registrations, will no longer be possible.

Ken Mattock