Veteran Land Council councillor Anne Dennis will be standing again in the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) elections on 24 February. 

The NSWALC is an independent statutory body with nine councillors, representing nine regional areas, that are elected every four years. 

Walgett-based Cr Dennis, who has been on the lNSWALC since 2011, told the Western Plains App she would use another four-year term to work to expand NSWALC into offering more education and training. 

She said that the type of employment in rural communities has changed dramatically, and in many instances, there were skill shortages. 

“I want land councils to play a greater role in training and education in the community,” Cr Dennis said. 

“I know we are here to provide a voice, but people need to be employed.”

Cr Dennis said she was interested in looking at how land rights legislation could be used to drive economic development.

She believes she had practised good and accountable governance in her past 12 years on the Council.  

Nominations close 30 January

NSWALC councillors are elected to represent the political, cultural, social, and economic interests of the Aboriginal community in New South Wales. 

NSWALC CEO Yuseph Deen has urged all eligible candidates to get their nominations in with the NSW Electoral Commission by the end of January deadline. 

Map of the local Land Councils. (source: NSWALC website)

“The elected councillors are responsible for setting the strategic direction of NSWALC, allocating the Council’s resources and making decisions on a range of important issues affecting Aboriginal people in New South Wales.

“The role of a councillor is critical in ensuring the Land Rights network continues to thrive. We have inherited a profound legacy; we need to continue to strengthen it for the next 40 years.”

Potential candidates should take into consideration the time required to prepare forms and lodge them with the NSW Electoral Commission, particularly if doing this by post. 

“It’s important that candidates submit their nominations as early as possible so that if there is an error the candidate will have time to fix it,” Mr Deen said. 

“If a defect in the form or accompanying materials is not corrected by the close of nominations, then the nomination will be rejected.”  

People intending to be candidates for one of nine regional councillor positions must have their nomination forms received by the returning officer no later than 12 noon on Tuesday 30 January, 2024. 

Prospective candidates need to fill in nomination forms and other documentation which is available on the NSW Electoral Commission website: https://elections.nsw.gov.au/elections/local-government-elections/becoming-a-candidate-alc24