Minister for Indigenous Australians
A ceremony near the remote community of Tjuntjunjara has celebrated the dedication of Anangu Tjutaku Indigenous Protected Area, Australia's third largest Indigenous Protected Area.
Larger than Tasmania, the protected area covers 9.7 million hectares in Western Australia's Great Victoria Desert on the native title lands of the Spinifex, Pilki and Untiri Pulka peoples.
Indigenous Protected Areas are an essential component of Australia's National Reserve System - the network of formally recognised parks, reserves and protected areas across Australia.
Indigenous Protected Areas now make up more than 50 per cent of the National Reserve System - over 11 per cent of Australia's landmass.
Indigenous Protected Areas are developed under voluntary agreements between First Nations peoples and the Australian Government to manage and protect areas of land and sea for biodiversity conservation.
The Anangu Tjutaku Indigenous Protected Area will boost the protection and conservation of the local environment including for threatened species like the Great Desert Skink, Curlew Sandpiper, Greater Bilby and Black-flanked Wallaby.
The ceremony was held at the Tjuntjunjara Community, 700km north-east of Kalgoorlie. Spinifex, Pilki and Untiri Pulka families from across the region attended along with supporters and partners from the Australian and Western Australian governments and a range of non-government organisations.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek MP:
"I am extremely proud to be celebrating the expansion of our world leading Indigenous Protected Areas network, which will assist with achieving Labor's goal of protecting 30 per cent of our land and 30 per cent of our oceans by 2030.
"Through the Government's Indigenous Protected Areas Program more than 92 million hectares of land and sea across Australia - an area larger than New South Wales - is managed by First Nations people to improve biodiversity conservation.
"Protecting and actively managing this area, through right-way fire management, threatened species conservation and weed and pest animal control, plays an essential role in protecting the many species that call this vast area home.
"That's why Labor has committed to increase the number of Indigenous Protected Areas and boost funding for the management of Indigenous Protected Areas, providing an additional $10 million each year."
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney MP:
"Today we recognise and celebrate the enormous efforts of the Pila Nguru and Kaltupakal Aboriginal Corporations and Spinifex, Pilki and Untiri Pulka Traditional Owners in the creation of the Australia's third largest Indigenous Protected Area.
"The Indigenous Protected Area Program provides a genuine opportunity for First Nations peoples to make decisions that align with their community needs and ensure protection of culturally important places, plants and animals.
"The Anangu Tjutaku project realises the aspirations of Spinifex, Pilki and Untiri Pulka Traditional Owners to protect and transfer their cultural knowledge of a healthy Country to younger generations achieving strong social, cultural and economic outcomes in their communities.
"I congratulate the Spinifex, Pilki and Untiri Pulka Traditional Owners on achieving this important milestone."
