• Traditional owners gave powerful evidence at the Senate inquiry hearings into the Middle Arm project
• The Environment Minister has rejected an application for cultural heritage protection at Binybara / Lee Point near Darwin, lifting the moratorium on a defence housing project that will clear swathes of Gouldian Finch habitat
• Gomeroi traditional owners successfully argued in the Federal Court that the Native Title Tribunal is required to consider climate impacts on native title land when assessing applications. The decision has overturned an approval granted in relation to the Santos Narrabri gas project (hear elder, Polly Cutmore, discuss the case at the Climate Integrity Summit).
• A Senate inquiry is considering the Protecting the Spirit of Sea Country Bill 2023, which seeks to ensure First Nations people are consulted regarding proposed offshore energy projects
• NOPSEMA has also been consulting on consultation rules to ensure First Nations and other affected communities are adequately involved in decisions on offshore oil and gas projects. First Nations groups and eNGOs have raised concern that proposed amendments to offshore oil and gas laws will allow companies to avoid new consultation rules.
• Traditional owners of the site of the Adani / Bravus mine launched legal action claiming the company is breaching their human rights by failing to prevent contamination of wetlands
• In a number of other court cases, traditional owners have challenged resource projects on the basis of cultural heritage impacts and / or lack of culturally-appropriate consultation, including a challenge to Woodside’s Burrup project, the Barossa gas pipeline, and the Federal government’s failure to take climate action to prevent sea level rise impacts for Torres Strait islands.
• The UN Human Rights Committee found that Wunna Nyiyaparli had been denied rights in relation to consultation and representation in decisions about iron ore mining on their traditional lands.
• The parliamentary inquiry into implementation of the UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People in Australia (UNDRIP) recommended a National Action Plan to ensure that all legislation and policy initiatives were consistent with UNDRIP obligations.  A Bill introduced by Senator Lidia Thorpe to give effect to that recommendation was defeated in the Senate.
• Murray Lower Darling River Indigenous Nations launched a legal challenge against Minister Plibersek’s approval of a Water Resource Plan, arguing there was no proper consultation  
• The Restoring Our Rivers Bill was amended to strengthen funding and consultation rights for affected First Nations Basin communities (see Inland Waters).
• The Federal government nominated Murujuga Cultural Landscape, Cape York, the West Kimberley and the Flinders Rangers for inclusion in the World Heritage List and committed $5.5M for First Nations communities to lead future world heritage bids.  The assessment of the Murujuga nomination has been delayed because the government failed to provide all relevant data initially. The updated nomination has now been accepted for assessment at the 2025 meeting.
• The Federal government is developing a First Nations Clean Energy Strategy  

• Throughout 2024 – targeted EPBC reform consultation (see Land & Biodiversity), including First Nations consultation standards.
• 29 April – 3 May 2024 – final hearing of Australian Climate Case (see Climate Change)
• 6 – 7 May 2024 – public hearings for Protecting the Spirit of Sea Country Bill inquiry
• Mid 2024 – review of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act
• Mid 2024 – World Heritage Committee to make determinations on Cape York and West Kimberley listing 
• Mid 2025 – World Heritage Committee to make determination on Murujuga Cultural Landscape listing 

• Ensuring First Nations voices are centred in events and discussions, and showcasing First Nations projects
• Ongoing work through the Indigenous Land and Sea working group, Rivers of the North, and AEGN Wisdom Group
• Keeping members updated on campaign and advocacy projects, including opportunities to make submissions or lobby decision makers

• Attend the First Nations funding workshop at the AEGN conference
• Use the Nature Funding Framework to inform funding decisions
• Watch and share Heart of Country (ACF)
• Use your membership or shareholder voice to raise issues with organisations regarding First Nations engagement, representation on Board and at events, and impacts on company operations 
• Attend Middle Arm and Protecting Sea Country inquiry hearings (online or in person) to hear from First Nations witnesses
• Consider setting procurement targets for First Nations businesses for any organisations you are involved with
• Contact the Program Manager – Indigenous Land & Sea Management to discuss funding and collaboration options
  
  Current Clearinghouse projects:
  • Strong Women for Healthy Country (Karrkad Kanjdji Trust)
  • Support for new Indigenous Ranger Partner – Arnhem land (Karrkad Kanjdji Trust)
  • Indigenous Lawyers for EGL (Equity Generation Lawyers)
  • Voice of Country (Invasive Species Council)
  • Country Needs People

• UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• Senate inquiry into the Destruction of Juukan Gorge caves
• Joint Parliamentary inquiry into Implementation of UNDRIP
• What is UNDRIP and what would it mean in Australia? (The Conversation)

Useful government contacts