The Victorian Government is committed to supporting economic development and advancing self-determination for Aboriginal communities.
The Review of the Aboriginal Lands Act 1970 (the Act) aligns with this commitment and forms part of our journey towards achieving Voice, Treaty and Truth.
About the Act
The Act was created in response to the Framlingham and Lake Tyers Aboriginal communities’ advocacy for land rights. The Act granted freehold title to the residents of each community over two former Victorian mission sites - Framlingham in Southwest Victoria and Lake Tyers in Gippsland.
People living at Framlingham and Lake Tyers on 1 January 1968 were gazetted as members of either the Framlingham or Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trusts (Trusts) and were then allocated shares.
The Minister for Treaty and First Peoples through First Peoples - State Relations in the Department of Premier and Cabinet is responsible for overseeing the administration of the Act.
Key documents relating to the Act
You can find out more about the Act on the education materials web page.
About the Review
In 2017, the Victorian Government published a discussion paper outlining its intention to undertake an independent review of the Act. In 2018, the Victorian Government appointed two Aboriginal independent reviewers, Jason Behrendt and Timothy Goodwin, were appointed by the government to lead the review.
The objective of the review was to update the Act to improve governance and enable greater self-determination for the Trusts’ communities. The reviewers engaged extensively with the Trust communities between 2018 and 2021 to inform a final report.
The review concluded in September 2021. The final report included 42 legislative and non-legislative recommendations for reform, designed to improve the Act’s shareholding system, strengthen governance, facilitate economic activity, and modernise language in the Act
About the Reform
In 2023, the Victorian Government committed to implementing the 42 review recommendations in two phases, led by First Peoples – State Relations, in the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC).
Phase One
Phase One legislative recommendations were implemented in May 2025 and make minor changes to the Act to improve share transfer processes, strengthen governance provisions, and modernise terminology.
Phase One changes includes the requirement of a new Instrument of Transfer form through the Aboriginal Lands Regulations 2025
Phase One also includes the development of education materials for the Act. These materials provide information in plain language about how the Act works and what it means for shareholders.
Phase Two
Engagement with the Trust communities on Phase Two is underway until March 2026. Phase Two considers the 14 remaining recommendations of the Review.
Who can I contact for further information?
If you have questions or want to learn more about the Review, contact First Peoples - State Relations by email at aboriginalaffairs@dpc.vic.gov.au(opens in a new window).
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