Published: 5 Aug 2024

Country Needs People welcome NT Labor’s recommitment to funding, and call on all parties and candidates to match or improve on NT Labor’s commitment.

Country Needs People, the national non-profit organisation supporting Indigenous Rangers, today welcomed Northern Territory Minister Selena Uibo’s statement - that if elected in the next election, NT Labor will recommit to funding the NT Aboriginal Ranger Grants program for another four years.

“This funding program has been a very welcome and practical commitment to supporting Aboriginal Ranger teams Territory-wide to manage and care for Country,” Country Needs People CEO Paddy O’Leary 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.”

Country Needs People is working with our multiple on-ground partners across the Territory to encourage all parties and candidates to commit to investing in this positive work, which benefits nature, cultural heritage and every Territorian by ensuring stronger Ranger teams looking after Country. The challenge now 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.” 

Led by a majority Indigenous board, Country Needs People is a leading national non-profit organisation committed to Indigenous Land & Sea Management. Alongside 50 Indigenous Partners Country Needs People, works to grow, secure and advocate for  Indigenous Rangers, to ensure Traditional Owners and their organisations are properly supported to deliver land and sea management Australia-wide.

Sign the Petition to support NT's Indigenous Rangers here