When the Aboriginal Land Act was introduced in Tasmania in 1995 - resulting in the Aboriginal Land Council - more than 55,000 hectares of land covering 15 areas was returned.

Ten were returned in 1995, and Parliament approved two more in 1999 and 2005, but none since, apart from private landowners transferring portions of their land to Aboriginal stewardship.

With the 2020 NAIDOC week theme "Always Was, Always Will Be", the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre has sought to put renewed pressure on the government for answers.

In his address at the flag raising ceremony, the TAC's Adam Thompson said that without "concrete acts" to repair damage, the week would pass again with "shallowness".

"The return of those lands was the very first meaningful step on the long road to restitution. But after 2005, the conversation abruptly stopped," he said.

"In the last 15 years, the only meaningful acknowledgement that this land is as it has always has been Aboriginal land has been through the generosity of private citizens.

"It is both a triumph and a tragedy that restitution for the wrongs of the past is being carried out by individuals rather than the collective acts of government.

MORE ON NAIDOC WEEK 2020 IN TASMANIA:

"Why during NAIDOC Week cannot the premier announce the returns of stolen lands? Why? What is the problem?"

Areas that the ALCT hopes will be returned next include those near the Bay of Fires and wukalina/Mount William on the East Coast, and the West Coast Aboriginal landscape stretching from near Marrawah south to the area near the Pieman River, according to chair Michael Mansell.

The ALCT has a vision of improving recognition of these areas under its stewardship, including rebuilding villages on the West Coast.

"We need our own people looking after our own heritage, then improving the quality of the presentation for visitors by people who are authentic and can talk about what the rock carvings mean and rebuild the villages," Mr Mansell said.

The nirmena nala rock shelter in the Derwent Valley was returned in 2015.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Roger Jaensch said the government was reviewing the model for returning land, but COVID had delayed a second round of consultation.

"The government is looking at potential options for land returns, and will continue to have conversations with Tasmanian Aboriginal communities on areas of land that are of interest to them," he said.