Know whose Country you’re on: Identifying rights and interests in land, sea, and water
Proponents must explore First Nations rights and interests in land, sea and water. This can be done both online and in person by directly approaching a relevant First Nations representative entity.
Online
Information on land rights, determinations and claims can usually be found by application in each jurisdiction.
Native title applications and determinations, future act applications and determinations, and Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs) can be found at the National Native Title Tribunal. The Tribunal also operates Native Title Vision, a free visualisation, mapping and query tool exploring native title across Australia, including overlays of administrative regions, non-freehold land parcels and resources tenure.
In-person
Proponents should approach the relevant Prescribed Body Corporate (PBC) or Native Title Representative Body / Service Provider, Aboriginal Land Council or Traditional Owner Corporation, to find out if the proposed project area has a Land Rights, Native Title claim or determination, or Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) over it.
If in doubt, approach the relevant body in the area.
Australian Capital Territory
As of March 2025, the National Native Title Tribunal records:
- no native title claims registered in the ACT, nor determinations.
- no registered Indigenous Land Use Agreements.
New South Wales
The NSW Aboriginal Land Council can provide guidance to proponents about land dealings and properties recovered under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (ALRA) and the Aboriginal Land Rights Regulation 2020 (ALRR). The Office of the Registrar of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act maintains the Register of Aboriginal Land Claims and the Register of Aboriginal Owners.
As of March 2025, the National Native Title Tribunal records:
- 8 native title claims registered in NSW, and 90 native title determinations of which 14 found native title exists in parts of the determination area and 6 found native title exists in the entire determination area.
- 31 registered Indigenous Land Use Agreements.
Northern Territory
As of 2023, approximately 50% of the Northern Territory's land and 85% of the coastline is Aboriginal freehold land held under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth). The four land councils: Anindilyakwa, Central, Northern and Tiwi can guide proponents regarding recognised legal title and control of lands in the NT. Aboriginal land is registered in the NT Government's Integrated Land Information System.
As of March 2025, the National Native Title Tribunal records:
- 24 native title claims registered for the Northern Territory, and 125 native title determinations of which 116 found native title exists in parts of the determination area and 7 found native title exists in the entire determination area.
- 138 registered Indigenous Land Use Agreements
Queensland
Land is granted under the Aboriginal Land Act 1991 and Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991. PBCs or Registered Native Title Body Corporates (RNTBC) can be trustees of this land. The Indigenous land holding entity registers have records of entities that hold land transferred to First Nations.
As of March 2025, the National Native Title Tribunal records:
- 38 native title claims registered in Queensland, and 237 native title determinations of which 38 found native title exists in parts of the determination area and 160 found native title exists in the entire determination area.
- 916 registered Indigenous Land Use Agreements
South Australia
Aboriginal lands account for some 22% of the state (as of 2024) granted under three Acts: the Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 2013, the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Land Rights Act 1981, and the Maralinga Tjarutja Land Rights Act 1984. Recognised Aboriginal representative bodies Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara, Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation and Maralinga Tjarutja can provide guidance to proponents. The Aboriginal Lands Trust holds titles of existing Aboriginal Reserves on behalf of First Nations people.
As of March 2025, the National Native Title Tribunal records:
- 7 native title claims registered in South Australia, and 43 native title determinations of which 40 found native title exists in parts of the determination area and 1 found native title exists in the entire determination area.
- 124 registered Indigenous Land Use Agreements
Tasmania
The Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania can guide proponents regarding land returned to First Nations. The Land Titles Office also has land-related information.
As of March 2025, the National Native Title Tribunal records:
- no native title claims registered in Tasmania, nor determinations.
- no registered Indigenous Land Use Agreements
Victoria
The Register of Land Use Activity Agreements assists proponents to understand land boundaries and meet their Land Use Activity Agreement (LUAA) obligations.
As of March 2025, the National Native Title Tribunal records:
- 3 native title claims registered in Victoria, and 9 native title determinations of which 4 found native title exists in parts of the determination area and 2 found native title exists in the entire determination area.
- 60 registered Indigenous Land Use Agreements
Western Australia
The Aboriginal Lands Trust (ALT) established by the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972 holds nearly 9% of the State's land (as of March 2025). LandGate has information about tenure including the ownership and vesting of freehold and Crown land. LandInfo WA has information about all matters pertaining to land.
As of March 2025, the National Native Title Tribunal records:
- 20 native title claims registered in Western Australia, and 145 native title determinations of which 90 found native title exists in parts of the determination area and 49 found native title exists in the entire determination area.
- 236 registered Indigenous Land Use Agreements