The National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) is an independent agency established by the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (the Act).
The Tribunal comprises a President and Members, who are appointed by the Governor General under the Act to make decisions, conduct inquiries, reviews and mediations, and assist various parties with native title applications, and Indigenous land use agreements (ILUAs).
The NNTT is supported by the Native Title Registrar, also appointed by the Governor General. Together, the statutory office-holders of the Tribunal, (the President, Members and the Registrar), each have separate and specific functions and responsibilities to perform under the Act.
Role of the Tribunal
The President and Members have statutory functions including:
- arbitral decision making
- administrative decision making
- conducting inquiries
- conducting mediations
- conducting reviews
- assisting parties with agreements to settle applications
- assisting parties to negotiate Indigenous land use agreements (ILUAs)
- assisting representative Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Bodies under the Act.
Role of the Native Title Registrar
The Registrar has statutory responsibilities including:
- maintaining three Registers: the National Native Title Register, the Register of Native Title Claims and the Register of Indigenous Land Use Agreements
- assessing claimant applications for registration
- giving notice of native title applications and ILUAs
- registering ILUAs
- providing assistance
- providing information.
