Indigenous Advisors on environment announced

The membership of the next Indigenous Advisory Committee, which will be crucial to federal environmental and Aboriginal heritage protection reforms, was announced last week.

The membership of the next Indigenous Advisory Committee was announced last week. They will be crucial to federal environmental and Aboriginal heritage protection reforms.

Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek announced the Indigenous Advisory Committee (Committee). The Committee will advise the Minister on operating the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1991 (EPBC Act). They will consider the significance of First Nations peoples’ knowledge of the management of land and sea, as well as the conservation of biodiversity.

Ms Plibersek said the successful appointees have a mix of skills, experience and expertise. Their knowledge base crosses fields as diverse as Indigenous land and sea management, conservation, sustainable use of biodiversity and cultural heritage management.

The Committee is a statutory committee established under the EPBC Act.

Duane Fraser has been reappointed as chair of the Committee for another year.

Mr Fraser is a Wulgurukaba and Bidjara Traditional Owner and has extensive experience advising Commonwealth and State governments on Indigenous Affairs and environmental policy.

The committee has been appointed for the next three years.

The goals of the Committee

National Native Title Council chair Kado Muir told National Indigenous Times he welcomed the Minister’s announcement and congratulated the reappointment of Mr Fraser as chair of the Committee.

“This is an important committee with a huge task ahead,” Dr Muir said.

“The IAC was the genesis for much of the Caring for Country and Aboriginal ranger programs.

“In this emerging era of nature-based solutions for climate action and the legislative reform of the EPBC Act, I expect the IAC to work closely with the NNTC. They must ensure Traditional Owners and Native Title holders are at the forefront of reform. The Committee must consolidate on the heavy lifting Traditional Owners are already doing to ensure our cultural and natural assets are protected and enhanced.”

When announcing the Committee’s membership, Minister Plibersek noted that “First Nations people have managed land and sea country for over 65,000 years”.

“Australia’s First Nations are the world’s oldest continuous culture and the most successful environmental custodians on earth,” she said.

What else will the Committee do?

“Our government is committed to working in partnership with First Nations in line with commitments through the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

“Through our recently announced Nature Positive Plan, which outlines our vision for national environment law reform, we will ensure the role of the Indigenous Advisory Committee is enhanced to give First Nations people a stronger voice in environmental protection.”

The Minister said the Committee would lead the co-design of a National Environmental Standard for First Nations engagement. As part of the Australian government’s environment law reform process, they would also be active participants in decision-making.

“This standard will be developed as a priority and will involve ongoing engagement with First Nations people,” she said.

“This standard will ensure First Nations cultural heritage is identified early and can be protected as projects are designed.”

The Committee members:

  • Mr Duane Fraser, Chair
  • Ms Teagan Goolmeer, Deputy Chair
  • Dr Rohan Henry, Member
  • Dr Cassandra Hunter, Member
  • Professor Stephen van Leeuwen, Member
  • Mr Tibau (Stan) Lui, Member
  • Dr Emma Lee, Member
  • Mr Damian Morgan-Bulled, Member
  • Ms Liz Wren, Member

Related Articles:

Send this to a friend