AAPA Board expresses concern about the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Legislation Amendment Bill 2025

The Board of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority is disappointed by the Northern Territory Government’s decision to pass amendments to the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act (Sacred Sites Act) without proper consultation. 

For over 45 years, the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA) has successfully worked with Aboriginal custodians to ensure the protection of all sacred sites, whilst providing developers with certainty and clear guidance through Authority Certificates. 

Chair of the AAPA Board, Bobby Nunggumajbarr said the NT Government has missed a crucial opportunity to modernise and strengthen the Sacred Sites Act.

“The Sacred Sites Act is meant to protect Aboriginal sacred sites, but Aboriginal people and their representative organisations have not been consulted on these changes.

“I am also disappointed that industry and the wider public have not been consulted. 

“The NT Cattlemen’s Association says they welcome these amendments, but they do not engage with the Sacred Sites Act.  I hope their sudden support signals a willingness to work with AAPA to protect sacred sites on their pastoral leases. 

“The fact is, the Board is worried that the amendments do not have Aboriginal consultation at their heart.

“These changes have been quickly drafted without a good understanding of the importance of sacred sites to the NT community, and they increase the potential for disputes and legal challenges. 

“The AAPA Board supports economic development in the NT, and the protection of our sacred sites is a critical part of that. 

“We want laws that provide developers with a clear framework on what they can and can’t do, and that give certainty to custodians and the Northern Territory community that sacred places are going to be protected.”