ACCESS FOR ALL Inc.®
Locked Bag 10, Braidwood NSW 2622.
Website: www.accesssforall.asn.au
The following statements from Access for All Inc® are in response to a National Parks & Wildlife Service document titled Development of a new Aboriginal joint management model for NSW national parks, published by Environment and Heritage Group Department of Planning and Environment NSW, July 2022.
Access for All has serious concerns about the implications of the proposed model for management of National Parks in NSW as well as the announced process of consultation. Some key statements are provided below but in order to fully understand this response, it is necessary to read the published 13page document.
“Land title is central…Accordingly it is anticipated the new model will provide for the potential handback of title to all NSW national parks- covering nearly 10% of the state subject to the land being leased back…for its continued use and management as a national park.”
“[It] will be a significant practical step towards Closing the Gap targets.”
“In developing a model that provides for the title to be held by Aboriginal people, the new model will seek alignment with native title processes and outcomes”.
Our concerns with this proposal are as significant as they are alarming.
- NSW Government under Department of Environment currently manage national parks on behalf of all NSW citizens including indigenous. Their first responsibility is to provide best practise to manage the parks.
- Under the National Parks and Wildlife Act there are responsibilities on NPWS to manage Aboriginal sites appropriately, but NSW National Parks should not be used by Government to placate the guilt of colonial settlement.
- The aim of the proposal is “to develop a model that will deliver a range of significant social and economic benefits for Aboriginal people”. While most Australians would support such assistance it is not right to gift exclusive title to one group of Australians and then rent it back.
- NSW Government should ensure the best qualified people with the most relevant skills are employed to manage and operate the parks for the preservation of natural and cultural heritage. In many cases this would Aboriginal people.
- Employing Aboriginal people would be favourably viewed and accepted by most citizens. Training and professional education opportunities could be offered.
- The land does not need to be gifted for ongoing “Implementing fire management….Implementing feral animal control, threatened species protection and other on-ground land management”.
- The model’s consultation process intends to undermine an established existing system without adequate planning or consultation and will cause dissidence from other stake holders.
- The document is presented as ‘beyond discussion’, a fait accompli, with only its implementation to be discussed, that transfer of title of some sort to Aboriginal communities is required.
- This model does not identify transparency, or accountability. Stage 1 and 2 should be inclusive of all stakeholders, who use and value our national parks not only the "Custodians Network" and Aboriginal communities. The consultation Stage 3 is too late as it refers to "refining a proposed model and releasing for public comment".
- According to the document currently 2.2% of the national park estate is held under title to Aboriginal people. NSW Government should undertake performance audits to provide insight as to agreement performances, outcomes and impact on stakeholders.
- The document acknowledges a range of complex issues, including the appropriate mechanism for identifying Aboriginal owners for each national park. How does that work?
These comments are exclusive to the implementation of best practice for management of national parks in NSW. Access for All supports Closing the Gap but does not support excluding ALL Australians from ownership of public lands.
Note: The above statement was sent to the NSW Parliament in August 2022 following adoption by the AFA Committee.