Portfolio — 4 August 2026

The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, announced a $200 million Prescribed Bodies Corporate Support Program to strengthen the capability and sustainability of PBCs across Australia [TA-260804-pmc-4386a7f29389]. The program directs investment toward the institutional infrastructure that enables Native Title holders to manage and derive economic benefit from their recognised land interests.

**Program structure**

The initiative includes $30 million in Strategic Projects grants, available until 30 June 2029, with individual grants ranging from $50,000 to $750,000 [TA-260804-pmc-4386a7f29389]. The grants target economic development activities and business enterprises, giving PBCs dedicated funding to pursue commercial opportunities on determined Native Title land. The media release does not specify how the remaining $170 million of the $200 million envelope is allocated across other capability and sustainability measures.

**Policy framing**

Senator McCarthy stated the initiative aims to assist Native Title holders to generate and maximise economic opportunities across the 46.7 per cent of Australia's land mass where Native Title has been recognised [TA-260804-pmc-4386a7f29389]. The portfolio frames PBCs as essential infrastructure for First Nations economic empowerment, characterising the program as a shift from housing delivery toward long-term asset management and commercial capability [TA-260804-pmc-4386a7f29389].

**Synthesis**

The announcement signals a portfolio emphasis on building the commercial and institutional capacity of Native Title representative bodies across nearly half of the continent's land mass. The $200 million commitment and the multi-year grant window through 2029 indicate a sustained rather than short-term intervention. The framing centres PBCs as economic infrastructure, positioning Native Title structures as vehicles for First Nations economic self-determination rather than purely administrative entities.

The record for this window consists of a single media release; no further program guidelines, eligibility criteria, or implementation timelines beyond the 2029 grant endpoint are provided in the available material.