Aboriginal Land Act 1991

If a claim is referred to the Land Tribunal, the chairperson may direct the holding of a conference of the parties presided over by a presiding member if the chairperson considers the holding of the conference may help to resolve the claim.

A party to a proceeding to which the conference relates may be represented at the conference by a person who, under this Act, may represent the party at the hearing of the proceeding.

If a conference is held under subsection (1) and—

at or after the conference, agreement is reached between the parties as to the terms of a decision of the tribunal in the proceeding that would be acceptable to the parties; and

the terms of the agreement are reduced to writing, signed by the parties and given to the tribunal; and

the tribunal is satisfied that—

a decision in those terms would be within the powers of the tribunal; and

that it would be appropriate to make a decision in those terms;

the tribunal may, without holding a hearing, make a recommendation to the Minister in accordance with or based on those terms.

At the hearing of a proceeding before the tribunal, unless the parties otherwise agree, evidence must not be given, and statements must not be made, about anything that happens at a conference held under subsection (1) in relation to the proceeding.

If—

a conference held under subsection (1) in relation to a proceeding is presided over by a member of the tribunal; and

a party to the proceeding who was present at the conference notifies the tribunal before, or at the start of, the hearing that the party objects to the member participating in the hearing;

the member is not entitled to be a member of the tribunal as constituted for the purposes of the proceeding.

In this section—Minister means the Minister administering the Land Act.