Welcome to the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority
Source: https://www.aapant.org.au
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:02
Welcome to the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority
Skip to main content
The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority
protects sacred sites across the Northern Territory
Learn more
Sacred sites are places within the landscape
that have a deep significance under Aboriginal tradition
Learn more
The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority
protects sacred sites by guiding developers
Learn more
The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority supports development while safeguarding Aboriginal sacred sites.
Services
Under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act, the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority is responsible for overseeing the protection of Aboriginal sacred sites on land and sea across the whole of Australia’s Northern Territory. The Act also gives the Authority the power to prosecute people and organisations that damage sacred sites.
The main ways that the Authority protects Aboriginal sacred sites are through:
Issuing of Authority Certificates, which set out the conditions for carrying out proposed works in the vicinity of sacred sites.
The provision of information to the public about existing sacred sites records
Learn more about our services
Sacred sites
Aboriginal sacred sites are recognised and protected as an integral part of Northern Territory and Australian cultural heritage under both the Aboriginal Land Rights Act and the Sacred Sites Act.
Both Acts define a sacred site as : ‘a site that is sacred to Aboriginals or is otherwise of significance according to Aboriginal tradition’.
Learn more about sacred sites
47 years
The AAPA has been protecting sacred sites since 1979
1,349,129 km²
The AAPA covers all of the NT and its waters
37 full-time staff
AAPA has an office in Darwin and in Alice Springs
CLP appoints first Aboriginal CEO of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority
28 March 2026
media release
The Finocchiaro CLP Government is proud to announce the appointment of Robert Pocock as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority, the first Aboriginal to lead the organisation. After stepping into the role of Interim CEO in August 2025 following the departure of Dr Ben Scambary, Mr Pocock has now been permanently appointed to the position.
Read Now
AAPA farewells Ms Jenny Inmulugulu after 20 years service on the Board
18 March 2026
media release
The Chairman, Board, CEO and staff of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority extend their heartfelt thanks to Ms Jenny Inmulugulu who attended her last Board meeting today after twenty years of service with the AAPA Board.
Read Now
ABC: Gem hunter receives suspended prison sentence for illegally mining turquoise at NT sacred site
28 January 2026
sacred sites news
Kimberley Smith was convicted and sentenced to four months in prison, suspended immediately, and will have to pay a $28,000 fine after pleading guilty to three charges related to mining significant amounts of turquoise from a sacred site on a remote Northern Territory cattle station in 2022.
Read Now
Turquoise thief sentenced to jail in joint AAPA and DME prosecution
28 January 2026
media release
Today in the NT Local Court, Mrs Kimberley Smith was convicted and sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months from today, after pleading guilty to working on a sacred site. This is the first time a person has been sentenced to imprisonment for a conviction under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act.
Read Now
ABC: Singapore-based firm scraps Darwin hotel project after sacred site fight
02 December 2025
sacred sites news
A high-rise hotel planned for the Darwin Waterfront has been scrapped, following outcry from Larrakia traditional owners over the site's proximity to a sacred site. Earlier this week, two traditional owners filed an application to the federal government seeking for the hotel plans to be overturned.
Read Now
NIT: Larrakia Elders lodge appeal with federal minister to protect Stokes Hill sacred site
01 December 2025
sacred sites news
Larrakia Elders Bill Risk OAM and Helen Secretary are appealing to the federal Minister of the Environment and Water to safeguard the Stokes Hill sacred site against damage and desecration.
Read Now
About
Our Board
Our History
Services
Request for Information
Authority Certificates
Compliance and enforcement
Report damage to site
Registering a site
Sacred sites
About sacred sites
Protecting sacred sites
News
Media releases
Publications
Annual Reports
Submissions
Careers
Contact
Skip to main content
The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority
protects sacred sites across the Northern Territory
Learn more
Sacred sites are places within the landscape
that have a deep significance under Aboriginal tradition
Learn more
The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority
protects sacred sites by guiding developers
Learn more
The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority supports development while safeguarding Aboriginal sacred sites.
Services
Under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act, the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority is responsible for overseeing the protection of Aboriginal sacred sites on land and sea across the whole of Australia’s Northern Territory. The Act also gives the Authority the power to prosecute people and organisations that damage sacred sites.
The main ways that the Authority protects Aboriginal sacred sites are through:
Issuing of Authority Certificates, which set out the conditions for carrying out proposed works in the vicinity of sacred sites.
The provision of information to the public about existing sacred sites records
Learn more about our services
Sacred sites
Aboriginal sacred sites are recognised and protected as an integral part of Northern Territory and Australian cultural heritage under both the Aboriginal Land Rights Act and the Sacred Sites Act.
Both Acts define a sacred site as : ‘a site that is sacred to Aboriginals or is otherwise of significance according to Aboriginal tradition’.
Learn more about sacred sites
47 years
The AAPA has been protecting sacred sites since 1979
1,349,129 km²
The AAPA covers all of the NT and its waters
37 full-time staff
AAPA has an office in Darwin and in Alice Springs
CLP appoints first Aboriginal CEO of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority
28 March 2026
media release
The Finocchiaro CLP Government is proud to announce the appointment of Robert Pocock as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority, the first Aboriginal to lead the organisation. After stepping into the role of Interim CEO in August 2025 following the departure of Dr Ben Scambary, Mr Pocock has now been permanently appointed to the position.
Read Now
AAPA farewells Ms Jenny Inmulugulu after 20 years service on the Board
18 March 2026
media release
The Chairman, Board, CEO and staff of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority extend their heartfelt thanks to Ms Jenny Inmulugulu who attended her last Board meeting today after twenty years of service with the AAPA Board.
Read Now
ABC: Gem hunter receives suspended prison sentence for illegally mining turquoise at NT sacred site
28 January 2026
sacred sites news
Kimberley Smith was convicted and sentenced to four months in prison, suspended immediately, and will have to pay a $28,000 fine after pleading guilty to three charges related to mining significant amounts of turquoise from a sacred site on a remote Northern Territory cattle station in 2022.
Read Now
Turquoise thief sentenced to jail in joint AAPA and DME prosecution
28 January 2026
media release
Today in the NT Local Court, Mrs Kimberley Smith was convicted and sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months from today, after pleading guilty to working on a sacred site. This is the first time a person has been sentenced to imprisonment for a conviction under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act.
Read Now
ABC: Singapore-based firm scraps Darwin hotel project after sacred site fight
02 December 2025
sacred sites news
A high-rise hotel planned for the Darwin Waterfront has been scrapped, following outcry from Larrakia traditional owners over the site's proximity to a sacred site. Earlier this week, two traditional owners filed an application to the federal government seeking for the hotel plans to be overturned.
Read Now
NIT: Larrakia Elders lodge appeal with federal minister to protect Stokes Hill sacred site
01 December 2025
sacred sites news
Larrakia Elders Bill Risk OAM and Helen Secretary are appealing to the federal Minister of the Environment and Water to safeguard the Stokes Hill sacred site against damage and desecration.
Read Now
About
Our Board
Our History
Services
Request for Information
Authority Certificates
Compliance and enforcement
Report damage to site
Registering a site
Sacred sites
About sacred sites
Protecting sacred sites
News
Media releases
Publications
Annual Reports
Submissions
Careers
Contact