On retirement from the Federal Court of Australia on 24 August 2016, the Hon John Mansfield AM QC commenced engagement with PM&C as a statutory office holder to fulfill the remaining term of his appointment. PM&C provided administrative support for the operations of the Aboriginal Land Commissioner. THE LAND CLAIM PROCESS The Act commenced on 26 January 1977. A total of 249 land claim applications have since been made. As a result of amendments to the Act made in 1987 and 2006 (notably s 50(2A) and s 67A(6)(a)) no new application has been made since 4 June 1997. The tables in Appendix 1 (which are described in detail later in the report) disclose that of the 249 applications lodged: 84 have been the subject of inquiries and reports; 3 are currently the subject of incomplete inquiries; 7 relate only to land which comprises the beds and banks of rivers and/or the inter-tidal zone (ITZ) and are susceptible to being finally disposed of without an inquiry in the event that regulations are made pursuant to s 67A(12) of the Act; 143 have been disposed of either by way of withdrawal or some other process not involving an inquiry; 11 are currently the subject of settlement negotiations which may result in the applications being disposed of without an inquiry; and in one case the Commissioner is currently prevented from exercising any function by reason of s 50(2C) of the Act. At a meeting convened by the Commissioner on 20 October 2016, the Northern Land Council and the Northern Territory Government through their representatives agreed in principal to a timetable to progress to finality (either by agreement and a request for scheduling, or by inquiry and report by the Commissioner) the unresolved applications referred to in 7c and 7e above, in a timely manner. In addition, the Commonwealth Government is currently taking steps to add land the subject of 4 applications (Nos. 93, 111, 122 and 179) to Schedule 1 of the Act. It is anticipated that process will largely be completed during the next reporting period. LAND CLAIM APPLICATION HEARINGS
77/CLC 2 Goyder Stock Route and Stock Reserves 14 March 1984 78/NLC 2 Delamere 26 March 1984 79/CLC 1 43 Yurrkuru (Brookes Soak) 4 June 1984 80/CLC 1 44 Harts Range 4 June 1984 81/CLC 2 Southern Stock Route (Horseshoe Bend) 4 June 1984 82/CLC 2 Jervois Stock Route 4 June 1984 83/CLC 2 North West Stock Route (Mt Doreen) 4 June 1984 84/CLC 2 North South Stock Route (Aileron and Yambah) 4 June 1984 85/CLC 2 North South Stock Route (Pine Hill to Neutral Junction) 4 June 1984 86/CLC 2 North South Stock Route (Neutral Junction and Singleton) 4 June 1984 87/CLC 2 North West Stock Route (Napperby) 4 June 1984 88/CLC 2 Phillipson Stock Route (Jinka to Loves Creek) 4 June 1984 89/CLC 2 Phillipson Stock Route (Deep Well to Todd River) 4 June 1984 90/CLC 2 Sandover Stock Route (Bond Springs and Yambah) 4 June 1984 91/CLC 2 Wycliffe Well 4 June 1984 92/CLC 1 35 Coolibah and Wave Hill Stock Routes (Victoria River Downs) 2 July 1984 93/Other 3(b) Ngombur (Repeat) 23 November 1984
(Bond Springs and Yambah) 91 Wycliffe Well Schedule 1, No 2 of 1990 94 Eva Valley Schedule 1, No 6 of 1993 96 Dry River and Coolibah Stock Routes - Manbullo Area Withdrawn 9 November 1989 97 Barkly, South Barkly and Ranken Stock Routes (Wakaya/Alyawarre) s 67A(6) 98 Murranji and Dry River Stock Routes (Mudbura) s 67A(6) 100 Urapunga Stock Route s 67A(6) 101 South Barkly Stock Route (Alroy Downs) Withdrawn 1 September 1989 102 Barkly Stock Route (Brunette Downs) s 67A(6) 103 Auvergne Stock Route (Mirriwung) s 67A(6) 104 Auvergne Stock Route (Ngarinman/Ngaliwurru) s 67A(6) 108 Wampana Schedule 1, No 66 of 1994 109 Borroloola Stock Route Withdrawn 25 July 1988 110 Hugh River Stock Route (Henbury and Orange Creek) s 67A(6) 112 Jawoyn (Werrenbun and Barnjarn) Withdrawn 30 June 1993 113 Jawoyn (Werrenbun and Barnjarn) Withdrawn 30 June 1993 114 Kanturrpa/Kanttaji Schedule 1, No 6 of 1993 115 Warumungu/Wakaya (Repeat) s 67A(8) 116 Frewena Withdrawn 13 June 2000
Murranji and Dry River Stock Routes (Mudbura) 2 August 1985 98/NLC Murranji Stock Route (Murranji Pastoral Lease) 29 May 1987 181/NLC Myra Falls Region 29 May 1997 180/NLC N’Dhala Gorge 4 June 1997 204/CLC Newcastle Waters Area 16 November 1983 73/NLC Ngaliwurru/Nungali (Fitzroy Pastoral Lease) 25 March 1992 137/NLC Ngombur (Repeat) 23 November 1984 93/Other Nicholson River (Waanyi/Garawa) 16 October 1978 20/NLC North Simpson Desert 7 August 1991 134/CLC North South Stock Route (Aileron and Yambah) 4 June 1984 84/CLC North South Stock Route (Banka Banka) 12 September 1988 118/NLC North South Stock Route (Helen Springs) 7 October 1988 119/NLC North South Stock Route (Neutral Junction and Singleton) 4 June 1984 86/CLC North South Stock Route (Pine Hill to Neutral Junction) 4 June 1984 85/CLC North West Stock Route (Mt Doreen) 4 June 1984 83/CLC North West Stock Route (Napperby) 4 June 1984 87/CLC North-West Simpson Desert 20 December 1989 126/CLC Nurrku 4 June 1997 227/CLC Ooratippra 22 August 1980 51/CLC Ormiston Gorge 21 August 1980 47/CLC Palm Valley 22 August 1980 48/CLC