Land use and ownership
When land is transferred to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations, the Minister appoints the corporation as trustees for the land. The trustee holds the land for the benefit of either:
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people connected to the land (including their ancestors and descendants)
- native title holders (if there’s a native title determination over the land).
The trustee could be either:
- an Indigenous corporation that’s registered under the Australian Government's Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSIA) or
- an existing land trust established under the Indigenous Land Acts.
Read more about land trusts and other land-holding entities.
The land is held in trust as ‘inalienable freehold title’ which means that the land cannot be sold. It is held in perpetuity for the benefit of the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people connected to that land.
Any proposed development or use of the land would be subject to local Council and planning laws.
Resources and services on the land
The Queensland Government retains ownership of the minerals and petroleum on all land in Queensland. It also retains certain rights to forest products and quarry materials on some land transferred under the Indigenous Land Acts.