Native Title Law
National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT)
The independent body established under the Native Title Act 1993 to register applications and ILUAs, assist in future act negotiations and support parties in native title matters. Mediation of claims is conducted by a Judicial Registrar of the Federal Court.
The independent body established under the Native Title Act 1993 to register applications and ILUAs, assist in future act negotiations and support parties in native title matters. Mediation of claims is conducted by a Judicial Registrar of the Federal Court.
The National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) is an independent statutory body established by the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth). Its functions include registering native title determination applications lodged with the Federal Court; maintaining the Register of Native Title Claims and the Register of Indigenous Land Use Agreements; assisting in future act negotiations between native title parties and governments or proponents; and conducting inquiries in certain circumstances. The NNTT does not make native title determinations; that power belongs exclusively to the Federal Court. Mediation of native title claims is conducted by a Judicial Registrar of the Federal Court: the Court regularly refers contested matters to mediation before setting them down for hearing. Most native title matters are resolved through the mediation process without the need for a contested hearing.
Related terms
Legislation
Native Title Act 1993
The Commonwealth legislation (in force from 1 January 1994) that establishes the process for recognising and managing native title rights and interests in Australia.
Native Title Law
Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA)
A voluntary agreement between a native title group and other parties about the use and management of land and waters. Once registered with the NNTT, it binds all native title holders in the area.
Native Title Law
Consent determination
A determination that native title exists in an area, made by the Federal Court with the agreement of all parties, avoiding a contested hearing. The most common pathway to a positive native title determination.
What this means in practice
Native title law uses a specialist vocabulary. Understanding what a term means in its legal context helps Traditional Owner groups, PBCs and community members follow their matter, and ask better questions of their lawyer.
If the definition above raises a question specific to your claim, compensation matter or PBC, David Saylor is available to discuss it directly.