#1023 Member, National Native Title Tribunal, Statutory Appointment, Attorney-General’s Department

The National Native Title Tribunal (the Tribunal) is a national independent statutory body constituted under the Native Title Act 1993 (the Act). The Tribunal is comprised of the President and Members.

The Tribunal has a range of functions under the Act. Members are required to work closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as well as non-Indigenous parties in carrying out the functions of the Tribunal. The principal work of the Tribunal involves mediating and arbitrating in relation to certain proposed future acts (such as the grant of mining leases). The Tribunal also assists with promoting agreement between registered native title body corporates and native title holders about matters relating to native title.

The Tribunal also assists parties wishing to make Indigenous Land Use Agreements to negotiate these agreements, as well as mediating native title claims referred to the Tribunal by the Federal Court of Australia. Members may also be required to conduct inquiries into issues connected with native title claims and contribute to community liaison and education around native title.

The Tribunal has offices in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns. This position will be located in Perth. Find out more about the Tribunal.

The key duties of the position include:

Members of the Tribunal are appointed by the Governor-General under section 111 of the Act. Members perform the functions set out under section 108 of the Act and may also be required to conduct inquiries into issues associated with native title claims and contribute to community liaison and education about native title. Members have a range of skills and qualifications to effectively perform the role. Their fields of professional experience include law, government, public policy, non-government organisations, academia and the private sector.

Eligibility

Section 110 of the Act provides that to be eligible for appointment as a Member of the Tribunal a person (other than a Judge or a former Judge) must have special knowledge about:

1. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander societies; or
2. Land management; or
3. Dispute resolution; or
4. Any other class of matters considered by the Governor-General to have substantive relevance to the duties of a Member.

Section 110 of the Act also provides that a person is eligible for appointment as a Member of the Tribunal if the person is an assessor of the Federal Court of Australia or a Member of a recognised State/Territory body, as defined by the Act.