The Tiwi Islands, home to Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour’s mob stand poised to benefit from a significant financial boost as the Federal Government rolls out the Aboriginal Investment NT (AINT) a newly streamlined body focused on managing mining royalties for traditional landowners in the Northern Territory.
And Ms. Scrymgour is advocating for these funds (totalling over half a billion dollars in the next five years) to be channelled directly into much-needed infrastructure and services for remote communities.
According to Ms. Scrymgour, these funds that had previously been tied up in Federal accounts under the Aboriginal Benefits Account (ABA) will finally be accessible to the communities who need them most… so the establishment of the AINT marks a critical shift, with the new body ensuring that funds are distributed in alignment with Aboriginal aspirations and priorities.
Additionally, Ms. Scrymgour believes that it’s time for Aboriginal land councils to reconsider their role in managing these resources and instead of relying solely on Commonwealth funding for community infrastructure, she suggests the AINT could take on this responsibility, utilising royalty funds to provide tangible benefits on the ground rather than simply offering financial payouts to individuals.
The newly created AINT board holds decision-making authority rather than just an advisory role, which will comprise of representatives from each of the NT’s four land councils, alongside expert appointees from the finance and legal sectors, ensuring robust oversight of the funds.
Initially set in motion by former Minister Ken Wyatt, this initiative aims to unlock financial opportunities from mining royalties that constitute around 10% of revenues from land payments under the NT Land Rights Act.
Hence, Ms. Scrymgour underscores the importance of using this wealth to foster long-term economic empowerment, particularly for remote communities, emphasising the need to prevent an ongoing urban drift, which has seen many Aboriginal people leaving remote communities for regional centres like Alice Springs.
“We need to make sure that this body actually makes a difference to Aboriginal people. That the money is not being chucked to the same Aboriginal organisations and the money disappears or doesn’t make a difference to Aboriginal people.”
Ms. Scrymgour highlights that the funds should not only be directed toward infrastructure but also used to launch Indigenous businesses and attract external companies willing to invest in remote areas… and while Aboriginal people own half of the Northern Territory’s land, commercial leasing opportunities have remained underutilized (especially in central Australia) as Scrymgour points to the success seen in the Tiwi Islands where long-term leases for agricultural and tourism ventures have helped drive economic growth.
However, she also notes the importance of ensuring that traditional owners are empowered to take control of these arrangements, free from interference that could derail progress… and long-term agreements must be stable and binding to attract industry and create sustained employment for local communities.
Success Blueprint for the Aboriginal Investment NT
Scrymgour compares the Tiwi Islands’ successes to those in north-eastern Arnhem Land, where the Yolngu people (following the vision of the late Mr. Yunupingu) took control of their land and businesses, including a mine.
“The Northern Land Council has given control over the area back to the Yolngu people. They’ve set up a number of businesses and they are in total control over it. That’s what land councils should be doing, generate wealth and to have Aboriginal people be part of that wealth creation.” she explains.
Therefore, the AINT (according to Scrymgour) offers a golden opportunity to generate wealth and move Aboriginal communities forward and break away from past politics and grievances.
Thus, she encourages land councils to embrace this change, allowing communities to thrive through economic self-determination.
However, questions remain about the operational details of the AINT, including the expected return on investment and the cost of running the organisation… so as this moves forward, its success will depend on its ability to ensure funds reach remote communities, driving the creation of lasting infrastructure, businesses and opportunities for grassroots Aboriginal people.
