Australia Explained: Understand Aboriginal land rights in Australia

You may hear the protest chant, “what do we want? Land rights!” —but what does it really mean? Land is at the heart of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identity, culture, and wellbeing. Known as “Country,” it includes land, waterways, skies, and all living things. In this episode of Australia Explained, we explore Indigenous land rights—what they involve, which land is covered, who can make claims, and the impact on First Nations communities.

Several thousand marchers celebrate the 50th anniversary Wave Hill Walk-off in Kalkarindji on Friday August 19, 2016. On August 22 1966 Vincent Lingiari led several hundred Gurindji people off Wave Hill Station in a protest to gain fair wages, which morphed into the battle for land rights, which took nine years to eventuate. Credit: AAP Image/Neda Vanovac

Key Points

• Land rights return certain areas of Crown land — not private property — to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities for cultural, social, and economic benefit.
• Land rights, native title, and treaty are different legal and political processes, but all aim to recognise First Nations peoples’ connection to Country and support self-determination.
• The movement began with events like the 1966 Wave Hill Walk-Off, leading to landmark laws such as the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, with progress still ongoing today.

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