Commonwealth Numbered Acts

ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS (NORTHERN TERRITORY) ACT 1976 No. 191 of 1976 - SECT 63

63. (1) The Aborigines Benefits Trust Fund referred to in section 21 of the
Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910 shall be closed and the balance
in that Fund after all liabilities have been met shall be paid into the Trust
Account.

(2) Subject to sub-section (3), there shall be paid into the Trust Account,
from time to time, out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund amounts equal to the
amounts of any royalties received by the Crown in respect of a mining interest
in Aboriginal land.

(3) Where, by reason of an increase in the rate of royalty since the
commencement of this section, an amount of royalties referred to in
sub-section (2) is in excess of the amount that it would have been if no
change in the rate of royalty had taken place since the commencement of this
section, such part only of that excess as the Minister determines shall be
taken into account for the purpose of ascertaining the amount payable into the
Trust Account under that sub-section in respect of those royalties.

(4) Where mining operations for minerals are carried on under the Atomic 
Energy Act 1953 or any other Act on Aboriginal land by, or on behalf of, the
Commonwealth or an Authority, there shall be paid into the Trust Account from
time to time, out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, payments in respect of
those mining operations of such amounts as are determined in accordance with
sub-section (5).

(5) Amounts payable under sub-section (4) are-

   (a)  such amounts as would be payable to the Crown as royalties if the
        mining operations were carried on in accordance with the
        law of the Northern Territory relating to mining for minerals and the
        royalties were payable at the rate fixed by that law immediately
        before the commencement of this section; or

   (b)  if the Minister administering the Act under which the mining
        operations are carried on and the Minister administering this Act
        jointly determine that amounts higher than the amounts referred to in
        paragraph (a) are to be payable under sub-section (4) in respect of
        particular mining operations-the amounts so determined.

(6) The Consolidated Revenue Fund is appropriated for the purpose of making
the payments referred to in sub-sections (2) and (4).