In a speech at the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to enable transformational investment by partnering with the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance (FNHPA) to connect First Nations communities directly with companies and investors. This announcement builds on the co-design work underway as part of the formal partnership agreement signed in November 2022 between the Albanese government and the FNHPA on cultural heritage reforms.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s address, Gunditjmara and Djabwurrung man and CEO of the National Native Title Council (NNTC), Jamie Lowe says “We all know there is immense opportunity on the horizon for First Nations communities, particularly as part of the clean energy transition. But we want to learn from the First Nations experience with development to date to ensure we share in the economic benefits that will flow. In addition to the economic benefits, we also want to see protection of our rights and interests along the way.

Lowe continues “That’s why the historic partnership agreement with the Albanese government is so important, because it commits to reforms that are consistent with the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The principle of Free Prior and Informed Consent is the cornerstone of UNDRIP and something the NNTC and the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance also want to see as the cornerstone of development and investment. Better processes and relationships are good for First Nations communities and investors alike, and we’ve seen strong support for these principles from industry already, including sponsorship and uptake of the Dhawura Ngilan Business and Investor Guide to support First Nations heritage protection”.

Rachel Perkins, Arrente and Kalkadoon woman and Executive Director of Cultural Heritage at the NNTC and FNHPA says “We welcome the commitment of the Albanese government to working in partnership with First Nations people and to reforms which connect communities and investors, with the assistance of the FNHPA. The members of the FNHPA are Traditional Owner representative organisations from across the country including Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) and Land Councils, making this a truly representative partnership. This is about putting First Nations at the centre of decision-making about their communities, their economic development goals, and their cultural heritage”.

“The co-design process that began under the Coalition government and continues under Labor on cultural heritage reforms has been a productive collaboration so far but we are deeply aware of the time already taken to land these reforms, and the work still to come. We look forward to seeing all this hard work come to fruition and expect a commitment from the government to enact this legislation in the next twelve months following an open and transparent consultation process” Perkins concludes.

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For more information please contact Sarah Easson – E: sarah.easson@nntc.com.au or M: 0419 228 642

About the National Native Title Council (NNTC)

The National Native Title Council is the peak body representing Native Title holders and claimants in Australia. Our mission is to promote and protect the rights and interests of First Nations peoples and to ensure their voices are heard in national policy and legislation.

About the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance (FNHPA)

The First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance is a coalition of member organisations representing First Nations Peoples from across Australia- including major Native Title, Land Rights, Traditional Owner, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Community-Controlled Organisations with a mandate to strengthen and modernise Cultural Heritage laws and to create industry reforms that ensure Indigenous Cultural Heritage is valued and protected for the future.