The Land Council celebrates its 30th Birthday this year in September 2008. Through all these years Leaders and Landowners have worked to secure better lives and futures for all Tiwi people. Through the 80`s and 90`s Leaders accepted that Government support was never going to be enough and always came with “strings attached” to policies that didn’t always work. The shift to attracting private investment for jobs and industry and infrastructure began at the request and in consultation with landowners in the 1980`s and continues to this day.

Government support remains a basic entitlement for all Tiwi and all Governments are committed to the millions of dollars in health; housing; education and welfare services that flow to the Tiwi Islands each year.

Leaders have known over the past 30 years that Government support was never going to be enough, or that it was ever meant to be enough. The Land Council work for the independent identity of Tiwi people able to live and work and prosper on their own land has not been easy. It has relied upon private investment with Government support whenever possible. But mostly it has relied upon the strength and vision of Tiwi leaders through these decades.

Today the asset base of the Tiwi private economy stimulated by the Land Council is valued at over $500m. The private economy is also investing in the Tiwi College; Training and jobs; Road and port infrastructure; Transport services; Tourism; Barging; Contracting; Mining; Community development, Housing and Hotel and Office complex services at Nguiu; and also has aquaculture industry investments targeted for 2008.