Northern Territory Government Accused of Disregarding aboriginal Authority in Hotel Approval
Darwin,Australia – October 4,2025 – The northern Territory (NT) government is facing accusations of “bastardry” and a profound lack of respect for Indigenous cultural heritage after overriding the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation’s objections to approve a hotel development on a site of important spiritual importance. The decision,revealed today,greenlights a 180-room hotel complex on Larrakia land near the Darwin Convention Centre,despite the corporation explicitly stating the area holds deep sacred meaning and is integral to ongoing cultural practices.
The controversy centers on the NT government’s use of its legislative power to bypass the Larrakia Nation’s veto rights, a move advocates say undermines the principles of self-determination and free, prior and informed consent enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The hotel project, spearheaded by developer Pindan, was initially rejected by the Larrakia Nation in february 2024 due to its impact on culturally sensitive areas, including songlines and ancestral burial grounds. Though, the NT government subsequently invoked section 74 of the Territories Law Reform Act 1973 to override the corporation’s decision, citing economic benefits and tourism potential.
“This is an act of bastardry,” said Benedict Stevens, a spokesperson for the Habitat Centre NT, a conservation and advocacy group. “The government has effectively said that economic development is more important than respecting the cultural rights of aboriginal people. It’s a deeply disturbing precedent.”
Larrakia Nation CEO, Sally Morgan, expressed the community’s devastation, stating the decision disregards generations of cultural connection to the land. “This site is not just a piece of land; it’s part of our identity, our history, our spirituality,” Morgan said in a statement released today. “The government’s actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for our rights and our cultural heritage.”
The approved development includes plans for a multi-story hotel, restaurants, and associated infrastructure. The NT government maintains the project will generate approximately 300 construction jobs and 150 ongoing positions, contributing substantially to the Darwin economy. However, critics argue the economic benefits do not outweigh the irreversible damage to a culturally significant site.
The Larrakia Nation is currently exploring all available legal avenues to challenge the government’s decision, including potential judicial review and appeals to federal authorities.The outcome of this dispute is expected to have far-reaching implications for future development projects on Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory and across Australia, potentially setting a precedent for the balance between economic interests and Indigenous cultural rights.
