New Cape York Indigenous Reference Groups breathe life into Wild Rivers

Media Release
The Wilderness Society Inc.
10 February 2012

The Wilderness Society has today welcomed the commencement of the Wild River Indigenous Reference Groups for the Coleman, Olive-Pascoe and Watson river basins on Cape York.

The reference groups are formed from people nominated by their communities as having authority to speak for country and represent local clan and family groups. They have a statutory role to give direct and formal feedback to the Minister on key decisions about Wild River nominations.

“These reference groups enable Traditional Owners from river areas on Cape York to talk directly to the Environment Minister about policies that affect their country,” said Anthony Esposito, a national campaigner for the Wilderness Society.

“This initiative is welcome proof that the Queensland Government is embracing the right of Traditional Owners to speak for their country, and to participate directly in decisions to protect their waterways and achieve future economic development.

“Queenslanders now have the opportunity to break the impasse on Wild Rivers. The Wild Rivers initiative is not only world leading in its approach to conservation, natural resource management and sustainable development, it emphasises the rights and the critical role that Indigenous communities have in caring for and managing their rivers into the future.

“The Wilderness Society supports this direct engagement with Traditional Owners who speak for country. We have seen good progress with the community-driven Indigenous rangers for Wild Rivers, and these reference groups are strengthening the kind of partnership between Government and communities that can deliver great conservation outcomes and economic opportunities.

“This example can be extended to other conservation and land use decisions involving Traditional Owners right across the State. We encourage the Queensland Government and Opposition to look at how this new approach to governance works, and apply it to improving Indigenous people’s control over their traditional lands and resources.”

Comment:
Anthony Esposito, National Campaigner, Indigenous Conservation: 0418 152 743
Alex Tibbetts, Media advisor: 0416420168