Price delivers landmark funding for Indigenous Protected Areas in Durack during NAIDOC Week

• More than $22 million to 8 Indigenous organisations to support 15 existing Indigenous Protected Areas over the next 5 years

Member for Durack and Assistant Minister for the Environment, Melissa Price, announced during NAIDOC Week that the Federal Government will invest more than $22 million to support eight Indigenous organisations to protect biodiversity and cultural heritage through Indigenous Protected Areas in Durack.

Indigenous Protected Areas put land and sea country management into the hands of Traditional Owners, providing environmental, employment and social benefits.

Ms Price said there were 15 Indigenous Protected Areas in the Durack electorate as part of 76 across the country that would receive Federal Government funding to continue their work.

“Indigenous Protected Areas support First Nations Australians to work on land and sea country, achieving significant conservation outcomes, connecting with country and culture and promoting Indigenous business,” she said.

“I’m pleased our government is making a record investment in ranger programmes and have now invested $727 million nationally since coming to office and I am proud to be announcing this new funding as part of NAIDOC Week 2018.

The Assistant Minister for the Environment said combined with Indigenous Rangers, these programmes employ over 2,900 First Nations Australians across regional and remote Australia.

“I’m proud of the record support provided to Indigenous Protected Areas and Indigenous Rangers by the Federal Government, including a $30 million project to build the capacity of rangers to pursue employment and business opportunities in biosecurity, fisheries and border protection.

“Unlike Labor, we are able to invest in these critical environmental and land management programmes because of our strong economic plan and responsible management of the budget,” Ms Price said today.

Durack Indigenous organisations that received funding:

• Desert Support Services
• Dambimangari Aboriginal Corporation
• Kalyuku Ninti-Puntuku Ngurra Limited
• Kimberley Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
• Nyamba Buru Yawuru Ltd
• Pindiddy Aboriginal Corporation
• Wunumbal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation
• Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation