Why do you need a permit?
The Aboriginal Lands Trust (ALT) is a statutory body established under the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972 (AAPA Act).
The ALT estate makes up over eight per cent of land in Western Australia and includes lands proclaimed by the Governor under Part III of the AAPA Act, referred to as Reserved Lands.
The proclamation places a number of protections on Reserved Lands, including the requirement to be authorised to enter.
If you wish to enter and pass through Reserved Lands, you are required to obtain an Entry Permit UNLESS you are:
- of Aboriginal descent;
- a Member of Parliament; or
- acting under a duty imposed by law (e.g. public servants acting in the course of their duty/employment).
The Entry Permit is granted by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (the Minister) under regulation 8 of the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act Regulations 1972 (the Regulations). Before the Minister grants a permit, the Minister must consult with the ALT, which must, in turn, act in accordance with the wishes of the Aboriginal inhabitants of the land – meaning Aboriginal people who live on or have interests in the land.
For administrative purposes, the requirement for an Entry Permit is divided between transit permits (non-mining access) and mining entry permits.
| NOTE: The Minister may revoke an authorisation to enter or remain on Reserved Lands, (Transit Permit or a Mining Entry Permit), at any time. |
Transit Permits
Transit Permits are issued via the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Lands Permit System (ALPS) that is administered by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH).
The ALPS allows users to plan their journey through Reserved Lands via the ALPS Interactive Map. When planning your journey to travel throughout Western Australia, you can confirm whether you will need Transit Permits by checking whether you will be crossing Reserved Lands, as shown on this interactive map.
Important – A Transit Permit is required when travelling between the Northern Territory border and Laverton along the Great Central Road. This road will take you through several Aboriginal communities and areas of Aboriginal significance that are subject to transit time limits, which will vary depending on the area you are travelling along the Great Central Road. The ALPS application is used to pass through Reserved Lands within Western Australia only. For journeys into the Northern Territory, please consult the Central Land Council. |
Applying for a Transit Permit
Submit your Transit Permit Application
Once you have completed your application, DPLH will undertake consultation with the relevant Aboriginal inhabitants of the area.
If your application is supported by the Aboriginal inhabitants, your Transit Permit will be granted to you via email.
As the ALPS is administered by DPLH, Transit Permits are issued only during core business hours (Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm AWST). For this reason, if you are travelling during weekends, public holidays and peak times, please submit your applications for Travel Permits accordingly.
Transit Permits are issued free of charge.
What if the application for a Transit Permit is for a group or a convoy of vehicles?
Transit Permits are required for each vehicle. If you have friends travelling in your vehicle with you, simply list their names in your application.
If your friends are travelling in another vehicle, they will need to submit their own application.
How early should I apply for a Transit Permit?
You are encouraged to apply for a Transit Permit several weeks in advance of your proposed journey to allow for the needed consultation with Aboriginal inhabitants of the land.
However, applications should not be made more than thirty (30) days before the beginning of your proposed journey.
How long is my Transit Permit valid for?
Transit Permits are issued on a short-term basis (they are generally issued for no more than a period of three days) and are not issued for any commercial or mining-related activity on the Reserved Lands, including commercial tourism.
What else should I know before travelling?
There may be additional entry requirements or charges administered by Aboriginal communities or native title holders. Some communities may levy charges to enter or camp on community land. Native title holders may require you to obtain a Visitor’s Pass (VP). These types of charges and VPs are separate from the Transit Permits and you are encouraged to contact any relevant Aboriginal communities or Native Title Corporations directly to find out about their requirements before you travel.
Some applications for Transit Permits may not be considered by DPLH unless you have first obtained a VP.
You should keep a copy of your Transit Permit with you at all times in the event you are asked to show it.
You should also familiarise yourself with any conditions, including permitted travel purpose and “Reserve Special Conditions” that may apply to individual sites. There may also be conditions relating to individual communities you may be transiting.
What should I do if I change my travel dates or make a mistake when submitting my application for a Transit Permit?
You should contact the ALPS staff at DPLH by email, ALPS@dplh.wa.gov.au, or telephone 08 6551 8002. Quote your “submission” number, if applicable.
Safe Travel Tips
Please remember that some roads in remote areas in Western Australia can be difficult or impassable in adverse weather conditions, so please take the time to check road conditions via the WA Mains Road Travel Map as well as weather reports via the Bureau of Meteorology.
'Consent to Mine' and Mining Entry Permit
The combined effect of the Mining Act 1978 and the AAPA Act is that prior to mining (which includes fossicking, prospecting, exploring for minerals and/or conducting mining operations), a mining tenement holder must seek written consent from the Minister for Mines and Petroleum , known as ‘consent to mine’. The tenement holder must also obtain a Mining Entry Permit from the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.
The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS), on behalf of the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, coordinates consultation with the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and the ALT in relation to ‘consent to mine’.
The ‘consent to mine’ can be granted only after the Minister for Mines and Petroleum has consulted with the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and obtained their recommendation as to whether mining should be allowed. The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, in turn, must consult with the ALT, which must act in accordance with the wishes of the Aboriginal inhabitants of the land – meaning Aboriginal people who live on or have interests in the land.
A Mining Entry Permit is required to authorise the holder of a mining tenement and its employees to enter or remain in Reserved Lands for the purpose of conducting mining activities. Mining activities include transit through Reserved Lands to access a tenement outside of Reserved Lands.
The Minister for Mines and Petroleum issues Mining Entry Permits after consulting with the ALT. The ALT must, in turn, act in accordance with the wishes of the Aboriginal inhabitants of the land – meaning Aboriginal people who live on or have interests in the land.
The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs is not bound to accept the ALT’s recommendation. However, if the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs does not act in accordance with the ALT’s recommendation, they are required to table a report of their reasons before both Houses of State Parliament.
| IMPORTANT NOTE: A Mining Entry Permit is not transferable. Therefore, if you purchase a mining tenement from another party, you will need to apply for your own Mining Entry Permit. |
Once DPLH has been advised by DEMIRS that you have applied to conduct mining activities on Reserved Land, you will be notified by email which Aboriginal parties you must talk to and obtain agreement from. When you have provided DPLH with the relevant confirmations, a submission will be prepared on your behalf for ALT consideration at the next available meeting. The ALT meets every two (2) months, and the meeting dates are available here.
