John Koowarta Inspired Conservationists to Land Justice

The Wilderness Society Inc
Media Release
9 December 2009

The Wilderness Society today honors the achievements and legacy of Cape York Indigenous leader and land rights activist John Koowarta.   Aurukun community is holding celebrations today in memory of the late Mr Koowarta. 

Mr Koowarta, a Wik Traditional Owner, was denied his right by the Queensland Government of the day to purchase a cattle property over his traditional homelands on Western Cape York Peninsula. John Koowarta fought a long battle through the courts (1974-1988) with then Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen. He achieved success in the High Court, on grounds of racial discrimination, and was successful in the Queensland Supreme Court, winning his bid for ownership of land.

However, a spiteful decision of the Bjelke-Petersen Government dashed Mr Koowarta’s aspirations to return to and work on his country when the Government refused to transfer the title of the land and instead converted the property into a National Park (now Mungkan Kaanju National Park).

Anthony Esposito, National Manager of the Indigenous Conservation Program for The Wilderness Society said: “This blatant misuse of power by Bjelke-Petersen was an affront to equality and fairness, and ‘poisoned the waters’ for conservation on Cape York. This event has cascaded down the years and led environment groups, together with Indigenous groups, to a fundamentally different approach to conservation in the region”.

“John Koowarta inspired a generation of activists and environmentalists to achieve fundamental land reforms. Thanks to advocates like him, Cape York is now the scene of Australia’s most significant contemporary land rights and conservation campaigns. No environmental measures could succeed today without ensuring land justice and Indigenous rights are respected”, he said.

Over the last 15 years, the Queensland and Federal Governments supported by Indigenous and environmental groups have purchased around 2 million hectares of land on Cape York for the dual purpose of conservation and return of homelands to Traditional Owners. 

In 2007, the Queensland Government, Indigenous organisations, and conservation groups including the Wilderness Society, agreed to the principles underpinning the Cape York Peninsula Heritage Act 2007. The Act creates a new class of protected area - National Park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land) – and achieves these outcomes through negotiated Indigenous Land Use and Management Agreements. The Act also paves the way for the return of all current National Parks on Cape York into the hands of their Traditional Owners.

The Heritage Act agreement addressed the contention surrounding the Government’s Wild Rivers initiative, by amending the Wild Rivers Act to guarantee Native Title rights are protected. In addition, it created a framework for sustainable economic development in the region, and enhanced employment outcomes through conservation jobs such as the award-winning wild river rangers’ scheme.

Mungkan Kaanju National Park, the area of land that John Koowarta fought for, is due to be handed back to its Traditional Owners early next year through the Cape York Tenure Resolution Implementation Group (CYTRIG) process. The Wilderness Society is a member of CYTRIG.

Out of respect for the rights of Traditional Owners and an ongoing commitment to dialogue and cooperation, the Wilderness Society recently met with Mr Koowarta’s widow, Martha Koowarta, and other Wik and Wik Way elders, to discuss conservation and land rights on Wik homelands. The group is working with local Indigenous organisation, Wik Projects, on a cooperative strategy for environmental protection and sustainable homelands development.