The role of the Tribunal

The National Native Title Tribunal (the Tribunal) works with people to develop an understanding of native title and reach enduring native title and related outcomes that recognise everyone's rights and interests in land and waters (see types of applications). It works in an impartial and fair way, taking into account the views and concerns of everyone involved in the native title process. Hundreds of agreements have been documented throughout Australia since the Tribunal was established in 1994.

The Tribunal is an independent Australian Commonwealth Government agency set up under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth). It is part of the Attorney-General's portfolio and mediates native title claims under the direction of the Federal Court of Australia .

On request, the Tribunal may assist people in negotiations about proposed developments (future acts), such as mining. The Tribunal acts as an arbitrator or umpire in some situations where the people involved cannot reach agreement about proposed developments. The Tribunal also assists people who want to negotiate other sorts of agreements, such as indigenous land use agreements.

What does the Native Title Registrar do?

Under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth), the Registrar has specific functions that may also be carried out by appointed delegates. These functions include the:

• provision of assistance to applicants and other people involved in native title proceedings
• application of the registration test to native title claimant applications
• maintenance of the Register of Native Title Claims, the National Native Title Register and the Register of Indigenous Land Use Agreements and provision of public access to these registers
• provision of assistance and registration of indigenous land use agreements
• notification of native title applications and indigenous land use agreements
• provision of reports to the Federal Court.

Assistance and information for everyone

The Tribunal is an independent source of information and may assist people involved in native title matters and the wider public. It has offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. The Tribunal is not a court and does not decide whether native title exists or not.