ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE
Country Needs People campaigned long and hard to achieve bipartisan support for the goal of doubling federally funded Indigenous Ranger numbers and a job equity target for women rangers by 2030.
When we started our campaign in 2015 there was significant uncertainty and risk around ongoing Federal Government support for the sector.
We campaigned alongside our Indigenous Partner network and supporter list of everyday Australians. The campaign grew and gained momentum, with supporters across the political spectrum, in the media, in government and NGOs amplifying our message.
Whilst this has been an enormous achievement the real work starts now, delivering the critical work of jobs on the ground, and ensuring Ranger groups are supported to succeed and not set up to fail.
Taking it to the decision-makers
Side by side with our Indigenous partners from all corners of Australia we campaigned at parliamentary events, in the media, on social media, at advocacy meetings and by speaking to government agencies, philanthropists and supporters, ensuring key decision-makers were aware of the importance of Indigenous land and sea management.
Momentum started to build in every state and territory. Our Indigenous partner organisation network grew steadily from 14 to 42 whilst Indigenous Rangers, community members, and many leading Indigenous and non-Indigenous spokespeople added their voice to the cause – Pat Anderson AO, Chris Sarra, June Oscar, Nyapuru Rose, Ken Henry, Nova Peris, Fred Chaney to name a few. Online support began to grow around Australia, other NGOs got behind the campaign, a groundswell was happening.
By 2020 there were over 100,000 Australians from all walks of life who had joined the campaign, backing the call for the Federal Government to get behind Indigenous Rangers.
Campaign wins $636 million commitment
In 2022 our federal campaign delivered a major commitment when the Coalition finally matched Labor's 2016 commitment to double Indigenous Ranger jobs nationally, supported by the Greens and many independents with a $636 million Budget commitment.
Labor followed through on their 2016 commitment when they came to power in 2022, with the doubling of Indigenous Ranger jobs currently being rolled out.
This means that by 2030 there will be about 2,000 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs for rangers and support staff spread right across Australia, including in some of the most remote and isolated parts of Australia where jobs are hard to come by.
We are very proud of our role in achieving this outcome working alongside our partners. We thank the dedicated grassroots work of our partners and our thousands of supporters. Below is a timeline showing some key stages in our campaign.
CAMPAIGN TIMELINE
2015: Country Needs People launch network and campaign with Double Rangers and IPAs Campaign – 'Protecting Nature, Transforming Lives'.
2016: Labor and Australian Greens get behind campaign. Labor Opposition takes it to the 2016 election as policy.
2016-2018: Country Needs People campaign ramps up on mainstream media, digital media & billboards with the key positive message ‘Indigenous Rangers. It’s Working’. Supporter list grows with backing of thousands of Australians.
2019: Labor Party again takes campaign to the Federal Election as policy.
2020:
- Feb: Campaign grows to 100,000 people.
- July: Country Needs People relaunches as an independent non-profit organisation with majority Indigenous board.
2021
- July: Coalition Minister Ken Wyatt commits to 2028 funding extension for existing Indigenous Rangers.
- Aug: Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese re-commits to doubling Indigenous Rangers and increasing funding for IPAs to 2030 in his Closing the Gap speech to Parliament.
2022
- Feb: An additional 10,000 people across the country support the campaign in the lead up to the Federal Election contacting their local MPs.
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March:
- Independents back the campaign – Jacqui Lambie Network, and Independents Zoe Daniel, Helen Haines, Kylea Tink, Andrew Wilkie, David Pocock, Monique Ryan, Allegra Spender, Zali Steggall and Rebekah Sharkie.
- Coalition Government announces the doubling of Indigenous Ranger jobs, as policy on federal Budget Day. The $636.4 million commitment is included in the March 2022 Federal Budget with statements from Treasurer Frydenburg and Minister Wyatt.
- May: Labor wins government under Prime Minister Albanese and follows through on the key priorities of Country Needs People it has supported since 2016 of doubling Rangers and boosting IPA funding.
- Nov: Country Needs People Event at Parliament House with 45 Indigenous Rangers, Traditional Owners & IPA Mangers with politicians from all sides present to recognise importance of key commitments.
2023: Federal Government opens Round 1 of Indigenous Ranger funding. This is the first expansion funding for Indigenous Rangers in a decade.
2024: Federal Government announces 1,000 new ranger jobs investing $355 million over four years to expand the Indigenous Rangers Program. Job equity for First Nations women a focus, with up to 770 Indigenous women ranger positions.
2025: Round 2 of funding opened, with 800 Indigenous Ranger positions slated. The Albanese Government will invest a total of $1.3 billion to 2028 in the Indigenous Rangers Program with aims to double the number of Indigenous Rangers by the end of the decade.
Ongoing work with our partners is needed to ensure the rollout of new jobs is delivered in a way that supports local Indigenous land and sea management groups to succeed and not set them up to fail.
Banner Image: Nyiyaparli Ranger team Jayleen Anthony, Melissa Pepper and Carol-Anne Tucker with former Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt, Country Needs People event at Parliament House, Canberra, 2022. Inset: Minister Plibersek at CNP Parliament House Event, 2022. Photos: Exclusive Images/Country Needs People.