❓ Ms. Stephens asks about the government's investment in the Aboriginal Ranger Program and its impact on economic, social, cultural, and environmental outcomes. The Minister responds positively, highlighting the program's success and expansion.
AnsweredQoN 164Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ABORIGINAL RANGER PROGRAM
164. Ms R.S. STEPHENS to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
commitment to provide more jobs and training opportunities for Aboriginal
people. Can the minister update the house on this government's
investment in the Aboriginal ranger program, which is helping to drive positive
economic and social outcomes in regional and remote parts of the state, and can
the minister outline to the house how this investment is also supporting the
management of cultural sites and the environment?
164. Ms R.S. STEPHENS to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the McGowan Labor government's
commitment to provide more jobs and training opportunities for Aboriginal
people. Can the minister update the house on this government's
investment in the Aboriginal ranger program, which is helping to drive positive
economic and social outcomes in regional and remote parts of the state, and can
the minister outline to the house how this investment is also supporting the
management of cultural sites and the environment?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Albany for
her question. I am always happy to speak about this fantastic program, but
first I want to congratulate you, Madam Speaker, for your interpretation of the
standing orders to support breastfeeding mothers in this chamber. It is a long
time coming, and we are very pleased to see that step in the right direction,
so thank you.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms A. SANDERSON : This is a fantastic
program, first announced in 2017 as an election commitment by the then McGowan
opposition of $20 million for the Aboriginal ranger program. It was implemented
over the period of the last government. The program is essentially designed to
empower and employ Aboriginal people and Aboriginal corporations by training
rangers to carry out land and sea management and tourism activities across a range
of tenures. It is also a really important tool in addressing cultural and
environmental priorities locally.
So far, the program has employed 435
rangers and support staff, half of whom are women. The ARP has also sponsored
ranger training; 44 of those rangers have obtained certificates in conservation
and land management and 13 rangers have obtained certificates in Indigenous
land management and Aboriginal site works. The ranger groups are funded through the ARP. A number of significant outcomes of
the program have been reported, including 185 visits to significant
sites, facilitating an exchange of cultural knowledge; conservation work to
protect cultural values at 124 sites; 11 000 hectares of prescribed burning and
bushfire suppression; almost 100 000 hectares of feral animal management; 550
hectares of weed management; and more than 100 surveys of threatened flora and
fauna. In fact, this led to the Martu rangers confirming the presence of the
critically endangered and elusive night parrot. We continue to support them in
that work.
A couple of weeks ago I went up to
Murujuga and met with a number of the rangers who are working with the
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Murujuga
Aboriginal Corporation. They are working to preserve this enormous culturally
significant area, which includes more than a million works of rock art dating
back tens of thousands of years. These rangers spoke really passionately about
what the program means for them. For them, it means a meaningful career
opportunity that connects them to country. I met a woman who is employed in the
program and she showed us around the rock art. She said, ''This is so
important for me. When things go wrong in town, I feel peace and healing when I
come to work.'' That was really important to hear directly from her.
In
excellent news, the government is expanding this program, with a commitment of
a further $50 million in this term of
government. We are now more focused on making this a sustainable employment
arrangement for local Aboriginal rangers.
This is really important work that we are doing out there. It was really
heartening, as the minister, to see the work that the DBCA rangers are
doing, working hand-in-glove with those local rangers. They are really working
tightly and with a respectful exchange of cultural knowledge. This is a great
program, and I really look forward to updating the house further on its
progress.
her question. I am always happy to speak about this fantastic program, but
first I want to congratulate you, Madam Speaker, for your interpretation of the
standing orders to support breastfeeding mothers in this chamber. It is a long
time coming, and we are very pleased to see that step in the right direction,
so thank you.
Members: Hear, hear!
Ms A. SANDERSON : This is a fantastic
program, first announced in 2017 as an election commitment by the then McGowan
opposition of $20 million for the Aboriginal ranger program. It was implemented
over the period of the last government. The program is essentially designed to
empower and employ Aboriginal people and Aboriginal corporations by training
rangers to carry out land and sea management and tourism activities across a range
of tenures. It is also a really important tool in addressing cultural and
environmental priorities locally.
So far, the program has employed 435
rangers and support staff, half of whom are women. The ARP has also sponsored
ranger training; 44 of those rangers have obtained certificates in conservation
and land management and 13 rangers have obtained certificates in Indigenous
land management and Aboriginal site works. The ranger groups are funded through the ARP. A number of significant outcomes of
the program have been reported, including 185 visits to significant
sites, facilitating an exchange of cultural knowledge; conservation work to
protect cultural values at 124 sites; 11 000 hectares of prescribed burning and
bushfire suppression; almost 100 000 hectares of feral animal management; 550
hectares of weed management; and more than 100 surveys of threatened flora and
fauna. In fact, this led to the Martu rangers confirming the presence of the
critically endangered and elusive night parrot. We continue to support them in
that work.
A couple of weeks ago I went up to
Murujuga and met with a number of the rangers who are working with the
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Murujuga
Aboriginal Corporation. They are working to preserve this enormous culturally
significant area, which includes more than a million works of rock art dating
back tens of thousands of years. These rangers spoke really passionately about
what the program means for them. For them, it means a meaningful career
opportunity that connects them to country. I met a woman who is employed in the
program and she showed us around the rock art. She said, ''This is so
important for me. When things go wrong in town, I feel peace and healing when I
come to work.'' That was really important to hear directly from her.
In
excellent news, the government is expanding this program, with a commitment of
a further $50 million in this term of
government. We are now more focused on making this a sustainable employment
arrangement for local Aboriginal rangers.
This is really important work that we are doing out there. It was really
heartening, as the minister, to see the work that the DBCA rangers are
doing, working hand-in-glove with those local rangers. They are really working
tightly and with a respectful exchange of cultural knowledge. This is a great
program, and I really look forward to updating the house further on its
progress.
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