Aboriginals Benefit Account

In reply to the Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (22 September 2015).

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy): I have been provided with the following advice:

1. The Aboriginals Benefit Account (the ABA) is a federal government legislative scheme established under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976. As such, the scheme is available only to Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory.

2. There is no petroleum or minerals resource production on the APY Lands. Section 22 of the APY Land Rights Act 1981 makes provision for the payment of royalties if mining were to occur.