In June 2020 Greg Roche of Milika Consulting produced the second draft of his report, Leasing in the Northern Territory (PDF 1.6mb). Commissioned by National Indigenous Australians Agency, it examined the operation of the system of housing leases in remote communities, including town camps, community living areas (CLAs) and homelands.
The report included consideration of various forms of leasing in the NT:
- section 19 leases under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (Cth) 1976 (ALRA) – which enable development on homelands
- section 19A subleases under the ALRA – for township leasing (introduced as part of the Northern Territory Emergency Response aka the Intervention)
- leases over community living areas (CLAs) – small parcels of land typically on the edge of a pastoral property
- special-purpose and Crown leases – for town camps
Overall the review found the current system fit for purpose, but has recommended a number of possible improvements for consideration, including the introduction of standard form leases; converting CLAs to the ALRA; addressing the issue of housing on homelands; facilitating greater local involvement in decision-making; greater policy transparency, and moving away from paper leases.