Functions of a Local Aboriginal Land Council

12. (1) The functions of a Local Aboriginal Land Council are:

(a) in accordance with any regulations, to acquire land and to hold or dispose of, or otherwise deal with, land vested in or acquired by the Council; and

(a1) to negotiate the acquisition by the Council or by the Council and one or more other Local Aboriginal Land Councils of lands of cultural significance to Aboriginals that are listed in Schedule 14 to the NPW Act and the lease of those lands to the Minister administering that Act, and

(a2) to submit proposals to the Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife for the listing in that Schedule of other lands of cultural significance to Aboriginals that are reserved or dedicated under the NPW Act, and

(a3) to negotiate the lease by the Council or by the Council and one or more other Local Aboriginal Land Councils of lands to which section 36A applies to the Minister administering the NPW Act, and

(b) to make applications in writing to the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council for the acquisition by the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council of land on behalf of or to be vested in the Local Aboriginal Land Council; and

(c) to make applications in writing to the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council for the granting of funds to be applied solely to the payment of the administrative costs and expenses of the Local Aboriginal Land Council; and

(d) to implement the wishes of its members (as decided at a meeting of the Council) with respect to:

(i) the acquisition, management, use, control and disposal of land; and

(ii) the acquisition, establishment and operation of enterprises; and

(e) to consider applications to prospect or mine for minerals on its land and to make recommendations to the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council; and

(f) to make claims to Crown lands; and

(g) to upgrade and extend residential accommodation for Aborigines in its area; and

(h) to protect the interests of Aborigines in its area in relation to the acquisition, management, use, control and disposal of its land; and

(i) to negotiate with persons desiring to use, occupy or gain access to any part of its land; and

(j) with the consent of the parties concerned, to conciliate disputes between individual Aborigines or groups of Aborigines in its area; and

(k) such other functions as are conferred or imposed on it by or under this or any other Act.

(2) A Local Aboriginal Land Council must, when exercising its functions with respect to lands that are the subject of a lease, or proposed lease, under Part 4A of the NPW Act, act in the best interests of the Aboriginal owners of the lands concerned.

Note. Part 4A of the NPW Act deals with lands, reserved or dedicated under that Act, that are vested in an Aboriginal Land Council or Councils and are leased by that Council or those Councils to the Minister administering that Act.,