Published: 7 Aug 2024

National Indigenous Times reports on NT Labor's commitment to funding ranger grants, quoting Country Needs People CEO Paddy O'Leary. 

Country Needs People chief executive Paddy O'Leary welcomed Minister Selena Uibo's announcement on Monday.

"This funding program has been a very welcome and practical commitment to supporting Aboriginal Ranger teams Territory-wide to manage and care for Country," he said.

"Rangers are out there tackling some of the biggest pressures on the Territory environment like reducing feral animal impact, controlling invasive weeds, protecting threatened species, applying strategic fire management, safeguarding cultural sites and more.

"This funding goes directly to enhancing the positive work of Indigenous Rangers from the desert to the tropical coast on land and sea. It supplies practical things like quad bikes, weed eradication equipment, work sheds, training and skills development and research and monitoring."

The challenge now, the organisation said, is for all other candidates and parties to match or improve on NT Labor's commitment.

"We call on all parties, major and minor, and all candidates including independents to commit to supporting this work," Mr O'Leary said.

"We will be encouraging the thousands of supporters we have across the Territory to ask every candidate and party what their position is on renewing and strengthening the NT Aboriginal Ranger Grants program over the next four years."

Sign our Petition to support NT’s Indigenous Rangers here

Read the full story on NIT here