Thirteen Arnhem Land Clans Propose Breaking Away to Form First New NT Land Council in 35 Years

At the 2026 Garma festival, 13 clans of north-east Arnhem Land announced a proposal to split from the Northern Land Council and establish a new Dilak Land Council. It would be the Territory's first new land council in 35 years. The move requires Commonwealth legislation. Yothu Yindi Foundation chair Djawa Yunupingu announced the bid, which would shift administration of the Gove Peninsula region to a new statutory body.