This Act recognises and protects native title. It provides that native title cannot be extinguished contrary to the Act.

The main objects of this Act are:
(a)  to provide for the recognition and protection of native title; and
(b)  to establish ways in which future dealings affecting native title may proceed and to set standards for those dealings; and
(c)  to establish a mechanism for determining claims to native title; and
(d)  to provide for, or permit, the validation of past acts invalidated because of the existence of native title.