Protecting our precious environment, supporting cultural strength, creating jobs for people to support their families, opening up new opportunities for men and women, young and old, and creating genuine and positive partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Indigenous rangers and Indigenous Protected Areas are a contemporary expression of the unbroken and ancient connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to this continent. 

We recognise the Federal Government’s Indigenous Protected Area and Indigenous ranger programs are producing environmental, economic and social outcomes for the benefit of all Australians. These programs should grow and their future should be secured for the long term.

It is time to secure and strengthen the Australian Government’s investment in Indigenous land and sea management.

We call for the Australian Government to:

1. Double funding for Indigenous ranger and Indigenous Protected Area by 2020;
2. Commit to longer term funding for Indigenous rangers and Indigenous Protected Areas; and
3. Support a national target of 5000 Indigenous land and sea management jobs by 2030.