Coffs Aboriginal Land Council joins march to parliament

ABORIGINAL groups are opposing plans to amend land rights laws, launching a campaign that included marching from Hyde Park to Parliament House in Sydney on Wednesday 6 May.

The government introduced the Crown Land Management Amendment (Statutory Review) Bill 2026 into Parliament in March.

Despite being described as “minor” and “procedural”, Aboriginal groups say it has serious implications for land rights.

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) says it has retrospective powers and reforms that undermine established legal principles, threatening the integrity of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (ALRA).

The Bill has been paused for consultation following these concerns.

CEO of the Coffs Harbour Local Aboriginal Land Council Chris Spencer, who attended the march, told News Of The Area that under existing laws, Crown Land must be used and managed under the strict terms of formal agreements.

If the land is not used, or used unlawfully, it can be subject to a claim.

Under the proposed changes, a lease alone (without evidence of activity) would be enough for the land to be considered “lawfully used”.

This has the potential to block many of the state’s 43,500 unresolved land claims or retrospectively overturn claims.

NSWALC Chair Dr Raymond Kelly said, “We have met with Local Aboriginal Land Councils from every region across NSW, and we are overwhelmingly united in our opposition to the Bill”.

“This is NSWALC and LALCs, representing tens of thousands of Aboriginal people across NSW, speaking with one voice: this Bill is not acceptable.”

Deputy Chair Cr Leeanne Hampton said, “We want to be clear that any changes to Crown Land laws must strengthen, not undermine, Aboriginal land rights.

“We want to ensure our voices are heard and that our perspectives are fairly represented”.

By Andrew VIVIAN