Indigenous Communities

and the Environment

Indigenous Advisory Committee

In recognition of the role Indigenous people in the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity, an Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) was established in 2000 under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The IAC advises the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts on the operation of the EPBC Act, taking into account the significance of Indigenous peoples' knowledge of the management of land and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

The IAC is made up of members who are Indigenous Australians who have been selected on the basis of their expertise in Indigenous land management, conservation and cultural heritage management.

The members of the IAC have a wide range of skills and knowledge in the fields of park management, Indigenous land and sea country management, health, tertiary education and local, regional and state Indigenous affairs.

Committee members are as follows:


Role of the committee

The IAC addresses issues relating to the EPBC Act including issues relating to activities in Commonwealth areas and activities affecting the matters of National Environmental Significance that the EPBC Act covers. These are currently World Heritage properties, Ramsar wetlands, nationally threatened species and ecological communities, migratory species, Commonwealth marine areas, nuclear actions including uranium mining, and places on the National Heritage List.

The IAC also has a broader function, providing advice to the Department on the development and implementation of policies and programs that may impact upon Indigenous people. Further more the committee advises on appropriate methodologies for engaging and consulting with Indigenous Australians.

Committee meetings

The IAC meets at least twice a year. Meetings are rotated around States and regions, with at least one meeting in Canberra and one meeting on-country.

Issues currently being considered by the IAC

At the second National Indigenous Land and Sea Conference, held at Cardwell in 2007, the IAC facilitated a number of workshops regarding the development of a National Caring for Country Strategy by Indigenous people.

After advice was received from delegates at the Cardwell Conference, the IAC is now seeking the views of Indigenous Australians on the proposed way forward, outlined in the attached discussion paper.

It is intended that a National Caring for Country Strategy will articulate land and sea management aspirations that are common to Indigenous people across Australia, and could advise government policies and programs to encourage closer working relationships for the management of country. The Strategy would be developed by Indigenous people (not by government) and would be overseen by a steering committee of Traditional Owners or Elders who are nominated by community.

The IAC encourages Indigenous Australians to:

  1. Read the discussion paper below and provide comments to the IAC at email: iac@environment.gov.au by 6 February 2009.
  2. Consider nominating a Traditional Owner or Elder from your state or territory who may be able to participate on the Steering Committee to oversee development of the Strategy.

Further Information

To obtain further information about the role of the IAC or committee members, contact:

C/-IAC Secretariat
Indigenous Governance and Strategies Section
Indigenous Policy Branch
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787, Canberra ACT 2601

Phone: 02 6274 1111
Email: iac@environment.gov.au

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