Labor congratulated, but “immediate action" needed to help Indigenous people, land council says

Dechlan Brennan Published May 7, 2025 at 11.00am (AWST)

politics

Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan alongside Anthony Albanese last year. (Image: supplied/Northern Land Council)

The Northern Territory's largest land council has welcomed Labor's election win at the weekend, saying it looks forward to working together to help close the gap and elevate First Nations' voice.

The Albanese government's landslide win has seen several Indigenous organisations express their support for a government largely seen as more committed to working with peak bodies and land councils, whilst avoiding culture wars which dogged the Coalition's first three years in opposition.

In a statement, the Northern Land Council (NLC) said they were committed to working with the government to help build a future "where Aboriginal people in our region have access to the same basic needs and opportunities no matter where they live".

Chair Matthew Ryan thanked the government for its "commitment and work they have put in to support the empowerment of Aboriginal people in NT in the last three years".

Whilst acknowledging policies in their first term designed to help remote communities, including for remote housing and jobs, more needs to be done, Mr Ryan said, calling on the government to get to work.

"There are still too many areas that need attention, and we must see immediate action during this new term. Now is the time to do better," he said.

Mirroring calls from the Productivity Commission and other peak bodies, Mr Ryan said Indigenous people "have the solutions".

"We call on the Albanese Government to listen to the voices of Traditional Owners and start taking real action on the problems we face out bush every day," he said.

"That is the only way we can earn trust and build a future for Aboriginal Australians."

The NLC said they looked forward to working with Labor's three NT parliamentary representatives, including the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, and MPs Marion Scrymgour and Luke Gosling, to discuss how to "address critical issues facing Aboriginal people across the NLC region".

"More must be done to ensure Aboriginal Territorians have their housing, health and education needs met – making sure they can live and thrive on Country for generations to come," an NLC spokesperson said.