Indigenous access and use agreements
Indigenous access and use agreements are agreements between leaseholders and Indigenous people allowing access for traditional activities to be carried out on lease land, including:
- recording and monitoring cultural heritage
- camping, fishing, gathering or hunting
- performing rites or other ceremonies
- visiting sites of significance.
An Indigenous access and use agreement can also take the form of an Indigenous land use agreement negotiated through existing native title legislation.
Although the right of Indigenous people to access state rural leasehold land may be unclear until native title is determined, it does not preclude the parties from entering into an access and use agreement. So that workable, endurable arrangements can be negotiated, the department will help develop draft agreements.
An Indigenous access and use agreement can take the form of:
- an Indigenous land use agreement (ILUA)
- another form of contractual agreement between a leaseholder and Aboriginal people, or Torres Strait Islanders.
Last updated: 20 May 2009