World
Australia: Yolŋu people launch Dilak Land Council to manage their lands directly
On August 1, 2026, Djawa Yunupiŋu announced the creation of the Dilak Land Council at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia. The new council will represent 13 Yolŋu clan groups on the Gove Peninsula and will negotiate directly with companies wishing to operate on their lands, bypassing the Northern Land Council (NLC). The announcement comes as Rio Tinto's bauxite mine, the region's primary employer, prepares to close in 2029, making economic diversification urgent. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão attended the announcement.