History
Recent developments
- In 2016, the new NT Government committed to conduct a conversation with Aboriginal Territorians about Treaty.
- At an historic meeting of the 4 NT Statutory Land Councils and NT Government (represented by the Chief Minister – who at the time was the Aboriginal Affairs Minister - and the members for Namatjira and Arnhem) in March 2018, the NT Government and Land Councils agreed to establish a Treaty Working Group to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
- The MOU was signed at the Barunga Festival on Friday 8 June 2018 by the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory and the CEOs of the four NT Land Councils in a public signing ceremony.
- The MOU requires extensive consultation with all Aboriginal people across the Northern Territory to inform development of a framework for negotiating a Treaty.
- The four NT Land Councils, as the statutory bodies representing Traditional Owners, are key and essential stakeholders in Treaty negotiations. However, It is also acknowledged that there are a range of Aboriginal interests in the Northern Territory and that all Aboriginal people and their representative bodies must have the opportunity to engage fully in the process agreed to in the MOU
- Professor Mick Dodson AM was announced as the Treaty Commissioner in March 2019.
- Professior Mick Dodson stepped down as Treaty Commissioner in June 2021.
- The Northern Territory’s Acting Treaty Commissioner Mr Tony McAvoy SC was appointed December 2021.
- A Final Report to the Minister for Treaty and Local Decision Making on the outcomes of the consultations and recommendations for the framework was delivered on 29 June 2022.
- The Minister for Treaty and Local Decision Making, the Honourable Selena MLA, tabled the Final Report in Parliament on 26 July 2022.
- The Northern Territory Government provided its response to the Final Report on 29 December 2022.
| Year | Timeline |
|---|---|
| February 2021 | The Treaty Commissioner delivered a guide to truth telling called "Towards Truth telling PDF (1.4 MB)" |
| July 2020 | The Treaty Commissioner Act 2020 enacted. |
| June 2020 | The Treaty Commissioner delivered a comprehensive Discussion paper PDF (12.9 MB). |
| March 2020 | The Treaty Commissioner delivered an Interim Report PDF (10.4 MB) |
| 2019 | Treaty Commissioner appointed |
| 2018 | Barunga Agreement Historic MOU PDF (9.6 MB) signed between the 4 NT Statutory Land Councils and the NT Government that details how a Treaty Framework will be developed and commits to the appointment of an Independent Treaty Commissioner to lead the process |
| 2017 | Uluru Statement from the Heart Called for a truth-telling and Treaty process in Australia and recommended the establishment of a representative body that gives Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Nations a Voice in the Commonwealth Parliament. |
| 2016 | NT Government Commitment New NT Government commits to a conversation with Aboriginal Territorians about a Treaty |
| 1998 | Kalkaringi Statement Prepared in response to the Northern Territory’s bid for statehood – stating a failure of the Northern Territory Government to negotiate with Aboriginal people. Called for self-government, recognition of Aboriginal structures of law and governance, land rights to be protected, effective levels of representation in parliament, and a guarantee of human rights. |
| 1988 | Barunga Statement Wenten Rubuntja (Central Land Council) and Galarrwuy Yunupingu (Northern Territory Council) present the Prime Minister Bob Hawke with the ‘Barunga Statement’ calling for a Treaty. The then Prime Minister commits to a Treaty by 1990. |
| 1978 | Northern Territory is granted self-government. |
| 1963 | Yirrkala Bark Petition Bark Petition against mining on the Gove Peninsula, signed by senior men of the affected clans, is presented to the Australian Governor General. The petition calls for a Parliamentary Committee to hear the views of the people of Yirrkala before permitting the excision of their land |