Indigenous Communities and the Environment

Indigenous Advisory Committee

Badger Island Indigenous Protected Area, Tasmania

Badger Island Indigenous Protected Area, Tasmania

Role

Closing the Gap is a commitment by all Australian Governments to improve the lives of Indigenous people. The Indigenous Advisory Committee is an expert group who provide advice about program, policies and consultation strategies.

Committee members have extensive knowledge and experience in a wide range of land and sea management activities.

The IAC provides advice to the Minister and department regarding better access to and engagement with our programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Committee is currently focussing on the Caring for our Country review, discussing opportunities for sea country management, cultural flows, national wildlife corridors and exploring options for the management of dugongs.

The role of the Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) is to:

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

Terms of Reference

In reference to its roles and by incorporating Indigenous people's knowledge of the management of land and heritage, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, the IAC will:

  1. Work with peak Indigenous bodies, experts, communities, and other stakeholders to ensure the views of Indigenous peoples are incorporated in the implementation and development of the Act and work being undertaken by the department as it relates to environment and heritage outcomes.
  2. Establish a working relationship with Divisions of the Department to seek and provide advice and make recommendations to the Minister and the Department on Indigenous issues that are relevant to achieving the objects of the EPBC Act and the role of the department.
  3. Monitor the implementation of Bilateral Agreements within the States and Territories and advise the Minister of their impact on Indigenous interests.
  4. Provide the Minister with a communique following each meeting reporting on Indigenous issues under the EPBC Act and matters of interest to the Department.
  5. Respond to any issues of urgency that arise during the implementation of the EPBC Act or Department that require a response from the Committee.
  6. Establish an Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) Sub-Committee to:
    • Seek to reflect the views of all stakeholders - including State and Territory conservation agencies, non-government organisations and Indigenous groups from across Australia - in the development of the IPA element of the Caring for our Country initiative.
    • Encourage the development of complementary processes in each State and Territory.
    • Advise on the implementation of the IPA element of the Caring for our Country initiative, including broader Indigenous conservation issues.
    • Contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of the IPA initiative.
    • Seek to identify and promote national best-practice examples of Indigenous-owned and managed protected areas, and cooperative management of protected areas by Indigenous groups and government agencies.
    • Recommend options for the development of IPAs
    • Review IPA guidelines.

Members

Membership of the IAC is based on their expertise in Indigenous land management, conservation and cultural heritage management. All committee members are Indigenous Australians and are not chosen to represent particular regions or organisations. The members of the IAC have a wide range of skills and knowledge in fields such as park management, Indigenous land management, tertiary education and local, regional and state Indigenous affairs.

Committee members are as follows:

Meetings

The IAC meet at least twice a year. Meetings are rotated around states and regions, with at least one meeting in Canberra and one meeting on-country. The IAC also hold regular teleconference meetings.

Secretariat

Secretariat services are provided by staff of the Indigenous Policy Branch of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.

Contacting the IAC

Email: iac@environment.gov.au

Phone: (02) 6275 9099

Post: IAC Secretariat
Indigenous Policy Branch
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
GPO Box 787
CANBERRA ACT 2601

Submissions and publications

Please see below submissions and/or publications which the IAC have assisted with:

Closing the Gap
Closing the Gap is a commitment by all Australian governments to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians, and in particular provide a better future for Indigenous children.

See also