Is the Northern Territory different? Certainly it is more remote, has less
people and relies more heavily on two or three industries for its survival. On the other hand, its mining industry is governed by Acts not
dissimilar to those of the major States - a Mining Act provides the basis
for acquisition of tenure, a Mine Management Act provides regulatory
control, a Mineral Royally Act collects revenue in return for the right to
utilise the land's bounties, an Environmental Assessment Act provides the
public face to rehabilitation and environmental safety, and the Aboriginal
Land Rights (NT) Act purports to give development criteria for inalienable
land use. With the exception of the latter, at least until the advent of Mabo, all
these are simply variations on a theme, and are common to most States.
This paper will show how the Department of Mines and Energy works in relation to the Northern Territory mining industry.