Australian Government: Attorney-General's Department
Australian Government: Attorney-General's DepartmentAchieving a Just and Secure Society

Native Title Unit

The Native Title Unit is responsible for providing advice to the Attorney-General on native title. The Attorney‑General administers most parts of the Native Title Act 1993 (some parts of the Native Title Act are administered by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) and has overall responsibility for the native title system.

Our areas of responsibility

The Native Title Unit:

  • advises on the operation of the Native Title Act 1993
  • develops and implements policy and legislative proposals about native title
  • manages Australian Government involvement in native title mediation and litigation. The Commonwealth is currently a party to about 140 native title cases
  • manages Government and stakeholder consultation and coordination mechanisms
  • provides legal policy advice to Australian and State and Territory government departments and agencies about acts that affect native title (i.e advice about the future acts regime, including Indigenous Land Use Agreements and the Right to Negotiate).
  • monitors Australian Government resourcing for the native title system, including currently conducting a major review of funding, and
  • responds to and comments on issues in the international arena that relate to native title
  • engages with IJLAD, FaHCSIA and other agencies on Indigenous policy. 

Structure of the native title unit

The Native Title Unit comprises of the Claims and Legislation Branch, and Future Acts and System Coordination Branch.

Provisions of the Native Title Act administered outside the native title unit

The Native Title Unit has primary, but not exclusive, responsibility for administering the Native Title Act. Other areas within the Attorney-General's Department and other Australian Government departments administer some provisions of the Native Title Act.

  • Civil Justice Division is responsible for appointments to the National Native Title Tribunal (Division 2 of Part 6)
  • Legal Assistance Branch, Indigenous Justice and Legal Assistance Division is responsible for assistance for respondents in native title proceedings (Section 183), and

The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs administers provisions dealing with corporations that manage native title on behalf of native title holders (Division 6 of Part 2), and Native Title Representative Bodies whose functions include assisting native title claimants (Part 11).

Contact Us

Native Title Unit
Territories and Native Title Division
Attorney-General's Department
Robert Garran Offices
BARTON ACT 2600

Email: native.title@ag.gov.au