Portfolio — 25 June 2026

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland tabled the Australian Law Reform Commission report "Fulfilling the Promise of Mabo: Reforming the Future Acts Regime" on 24 June, marking the most significant government action on native title law since the 1998 amendments to the Native Title Act 1993 [TA-260624-attorn-7411b3be7f1f]. The report is the product of the ALRC's first substantial inquiry into the future acts regime in nearly three decades — the mechanism that governs how government and commercial activities can proceed on land where native title exists [TA-260624-attorn-7411b3be7f1f].

Tabling the report fulfils a commitment the Government made in response to the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia's "A Way Forward" report, connecting this development to an earlier parliamentary process focused on Northern Australia's economic and land-use challenges. The Government framed the scale of the task plainly: native title now covers nearly half of Australia's land mass, and the regime governing future acts on that land must operate fairly, effectively, and efficiently [TA-260624-attorn-7411b3be7f1f].

Rowland announced the Government will consider the report's 86 recommendations and work with First Nations communities and key industry and government sectors to develop enduring reforms [TA-260624-attorn-7411b3be7f1f]. The deliberate framing around consultation breadth and durability signals the portfolio's intent to build cross-sector and cross-parliamentary support before legislating, rather than moving immediately to implement recommendations.

No timeline for the Government's response to the 86 recommendations was specified in the media release, and the records do not indicate which recommendations the Government regards as priorities — a gap that policy staff should note when assessing the reform trajectory.