The Northern Land Council has joined the call for the Northern Territory Government to withdraw the Environment and Water Legislation Amendment Bill 2026.

On Monday the Land Council said a Bill of this kind "must be open to community input and consultation and should have been referred to the Legislative Scrutiny Committee".

The omnibus Bill proposes amendments to nine pieces of legislation, including matters concerning water, mining, heritage and dredging.

The NLC said the Bill says "a lot about the government's priorities".

"It was introduced without any consultation, it is avoiding the level of scrutiny Territorians deserve, and it represents yet another step backwards when it comes to protecting what matters most."

NLC Chair Matthew Ryan noted that "water is not just an economic asset to be exploited".

"For Aboriginal people in the NT, water is life, culture, kinship and responsibility. It's in no one's interests that poor environmental regulations like this becomes law," he said.

"Aboriginal people are being asked to accept weaker protections and less accountability, while others stand to benefit.

"What the government should be focused on is fixing water infrastructure in remote communities, places like Bulla, which do not have access to safe drinking water from their taps."

'Backsliding on Best Practice'

The Land Council said the Territory government is "backsliding on Best Practice".

"Proposed changes to the Water Act 1992 will significantly weaken water resource regulation and bring the NT further out of step with national best practice. It's a move the NT simply can't afford."

The Bill proposes to make water allocation plans stay in force indefinitely, until the Minister revokes them, effectively locking in plans that are, in the NLC's view, at odds with scientific best practice, such as the new Katherine Water Allocation Plan (WAP) and controversial Georgina Wiso WAP.

Last week the Central Land Council warned the NT could become a target for water-intensive industries under the proposed legislation, which it says strips away key protections for the Territory's groundwater.

The CLC also urged the Country Liberal Party Government to withdraw the Bill, which chief executive Les Turner said would allow water licences to be approved without adequate oversight or "public accountability".

"The CLC is deeply concerned that we have lost our last line of defence against high-water-consuming projects that might come our way," Mr Turner said.

"With weakened laws and free water, the NT is a honey pot for industrial-scale use of precious and finite groundwater."

The NT Government says the bill proposes "changes to clarify environmental and water regulation, reduce unnecessary administration and improve compliance tools", amending seven different acts covering regulations governing mining, the environment, water, fuel and pollution.

"The Bill would clarify powers to request information and terminate applications on specified grounds," a fact sheet on the bill says. "Transfers of entitlements from Aboriginal water reserves would be temporary and subject to eligibility requirements."

'Accountability and transparency will only be further eroded'

The Northern Land Council said the government's proposed legislation will make water plans non-binding on decision-makers, "which means accountability and transparency will only be further eroded".

The proposed amendments affect nine current Acts and Regulations that have significant impacts on Territorians' ability to conduct business and sustain Country.

NT Environment Minister Joshua Burgoyne told Guardian Australia this month: "Our government remains focused on facts, not the fearmongering tactics of environmental lobby groups."

"We support responsible development, effective environmental and water regulation, and continuing our work to rebuild the economy and restore our unique Territory lifestyle," Mr Burgoyne said.

'All Territorians deserve laws that protect them and future generations'

The NLC fired back that amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 2019 and the Environment Protection Regulations 2020, will "make it easier in certain circumstances for mining companies to have their security deposits refunded when mineral licenses are transferred and before mining or site rehabilitation has been completed", a change the land council makes it easier for operators to "step away and recoup the costs of business whilst the land continues to be mined".

"All Territorians deserve laws that protect them and future generations, not legislation that weakens accountability, weakens environmental safeguards and sidelines the people most affected by these decisions," the Northern Land Council said.

"This government appears intent on doing everything it can to help companies take precious resources like water, all while weakening protections that stand to benefit everyone."