This comes after Aboriginal Land Council chairman Michael Mansell said the review was useless as the contributing discussion paper, Improving the model for returning land to the Aboriginal community, had not identified any parcels of land to be returned.

He added there had not been land returns for 13 years.

“We are having a review about land returns that are non-existent,” Mr Mansell said.

The review is intended to identify barriers for land handbacks, find options to improve the process and look at land management and governance practices.

Tasmanian Regional Aboriginal Communities Alliance chairman Rodney Dillion said the review was a vital part of the government’s agenda to reset its relationship with the Aboriginal community.

He said allowing for Aboriginal engagement in the decision-making process would assist in the pursuit for self-determination which had not occurred in the past.

“Meeting those objectives will lead to economic development and economic security, as well as increasing social outcomes for our people,” he said.

TRACE co-chair Patsy Cameron said it would also allow input into land management issues. 

The state’s Department of Communities is calling for public submissions in response to the paper and will hold face-to-face consultation sessions with Aboriginal community groups and other key stakeholders.

Submissions close on September 20.

More than 55,600 hectares of Tasmanian land has been returned to the Aboriginal community.