Prime Minister Peter O'Neill has admitted the SABL land grab in which control of more than 5 million hectares of land was seized from customary people was a fundamental mistake by the government

Speaking on Radio Australia's Background Briefing program Mr O'Neill said the government had made "some fundamental mistakes over the past few years".

"One of them is the Special Agricultural and Business Leases," he said.

Mr O'Neill said it is was a "huge concern" that vast tracts of land – some thousands of square kilometres taking in many communities – have been leased out under single SABLs.

The Prime Minister has pledged to implement the recommendations of  a Commission of inquiry which is due to publish its report shortly.