Media releases

AAPA Chair speaking at press conference

AAPA Board calls for genuine consultation and improvements to the NT Sacred Sites Act

media release
27 th March 2025, Darwin: Today the Board of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority expressed frustration with the NT Government’s fast-tracked, limited, draft amendments to the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act (Sacred Sites Act).
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Image of Local Court signage

McArthur River Mine convicted of breach of the Sacred Sites Act

media release
Today in the Northern Territory Local Court, McArthur River Mine was found guilty, convicted and fined $30,000 for working on the Damangani sacred site. Under the Act, work must not be carried out on a sacred site unless it is in accordance with an Authority Certificate issued by the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority.
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Dr Scambary oped NT News

AAPA Opinion: Future is guarded by sacred sites law

sacred sites news
Dr Benedict Scambary, CEO of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority, wrote in the NT News that AAPA is one of the strengths of the Territory. It is when its processes are not followed, that you hear about sacred sites in the news.
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Bobby Nunggumajbarr at press conference

A record-breaking fine at Gunlom confirms the importance of sacred site protection

media release
The NT Local Court today fined Parks Australia $200,000 marking the end of a long-running legal battle over unauthorised works near the sacred site of Gunlom Falls. At the two-day hearing at Gunlom Falls, the Director of National Parks pled guilty and was sentenced to a $200,000 fine, the largest penalty ever awarded under the Sacred Sites Act.
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Publications

Palm trees in front of the NT Parliament House (Michael Franchi ©ABC News)

Submission to the Legislative Scrutiny Committee Inquiry into the NT Aboriginal Sacred Sites Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 - April 2025

We are senior law people from across the Northern Territory and we are very concerned that these amendments will erode protections for our sacred sites. We urge the Assembly to not pass this Bill and instead engage in a real consultation process with Aboriginal people across the Northern Territory to bring proper reform to the protection of sacred sites.
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Tile for Consultation Report on the Draft Territory Coordinator Bill

Submission to public consultation on the Draft Territory Coordinator Bill - January 2025

The Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1989 (the Sacred Sites Act) is not classed as a Scheduled Act under the draft Bill. The draft Bill also states that the powers of the Territory Coordinator may not interfere with or modify the protection of sacred sites.
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Cover of the 23/34 AAPA Annual Report

2023-2024

The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority Annual Report 2023-24 provides a comprehensive account of the Authority's activities from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, including financials, notable Authority Certificates and performance data.
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Man in high vis and cap crouched holding a device in front of fourwheel drive

Comment on the draft standard conditions and risk criteria for exploration and mining activities - July 2024

Mining activities deemed low risk to the environment may still entail significant risk to sacred sites. Currently the processes for Standard Condition Licenses do not address this risk, nor do they provide a clear pathway to the Sacred Sites Act to mitigate this risk.
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