First Steps in Closing the Gap
Environmental measures
Four environmental measures in the Budget will strengthen the nexus between Indigenous economic development and Indigenous people’s relationship with the Closing the Gap between lndigenous and non-Indigenous Australians land, building on unique Indigenous knowledge and assets. All are part of the $2.25 billion Caring for Our Country initiative.
The Budget triples Australian Government funding for Indigenous Protected Areas, investing more than $50 million over the next five years. The Indigenous Protected Areas Program assists Indigenous land owners to develop, declare and manage protected areas on their land and develop cooperative management arrangements with government agencies.
The 24 existing Indigenous Protected Areas cover more than 20 million hectares of land, and make an important contribution to Australia’s network of parks and reserves, the National Reserve System. The Caring for Our Country initiative will help to expand this area significantly.
A $10 million element of Caring for Our Country will support Indigenous land managers to engage with emerging emissions markets through awareness raising, local capacity building and on-ground technical support. The funding will assist research into the scientific and market potential of carbon trading, help to build partnerships between the private sector and Indigenous communities and promote sales to growing national and international markets.
Another Budget measure, Working on Country, provides $90.0 million to enable the employment of up to 300 additional Indigenous rangers to protect and manage the environment. The rangers will provide valuable environmental services in areas such as weed and feral animal eradication, fire management, fencing, restoration of vegetation and protection of endangered species.
The rangers will receive training including through a nationally accredited land-management qualification, supported by Indigenous knowledge.
Australian Government funding for sea country Indigenous partnerships will be boosted by $10.0 million over the next five years through the $200 million Reef Rescue Plan. An element of this plan, Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships, aims to build the capacity of traditional owner groups in sea country management. The new funds will be used to:
- expand the existing Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreement program across the Great Barrier Reef catchment; and
- strengthen communications between local communities, managers and reef stakeholders and build a better understanding of traditional owner issues in management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
These measures build on our 2007 election commitments on Indigenous economic development.