covering Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria, were later created from parts of the Northern Land Council. New Land Councils can be created under the Act: Section 23 of the Act specifies the functions of Land Councils; however, the four original land councils continue to exist . Part IV: Mining Land development, including exploration and mining activities, on Aboriginal land are undertaken through negotiations with traditional owners groups and facilitated by land councils. Various types of payment for the land, other financial and non-financial benefits may be included in negotiations. The Act prescribes how the land councils and land trusts may grant usage rights and access, but in some circumstances a federal or NT Minister's approval is also required. Income received for the use of the land is distributed by the land councils according to the agreements with the traditional owners and as the Act provides. Royalties paid to the NT and Federal governments for the use of the land are processed and directed to the Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA) (Part VI of the Act) and the funds are to be used for certain purposes prescribed by the Act which benefit Aboriginal peoples in the NT. Part VII: Miscellaneous Sacred sites Section 69 (under "Part VII - Miscellaneous") of the Act defines a special category of land, the sacred site, which is a site of significance according to Aboriginal tradition. It prohibits a person from entering a sacred site, with penalties of a fine or prison sentence. (There is also additional protection for sacred sites in the NT under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1989.) Local Decision Making The Act specifies methods for Land Councils to support local Aboriginal groups to make decisions regarding their land, including: Part II (Grants of Land to Aboriginal Land Trusts): Section 19A: Land Trust may grant headlease over township Part III (Aboriginal Land Councils), Section 28A: Delegation of a Land Council’s functions or powers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation 1997 Reeves Report and 2006 Amendments A significant review of the Act (referred to as ALRA) was undertaken from October 1997, when the government appointed barrister John Reeves to examine its effectiveness, operation of aspects relating to mining and the Aboriginal Benefits Trust Account, and the role of the Land Councils. The Reeves Report concluded that the ALRA had been very effective in granting traditional Aboriginal land