Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 5:46:58 to 5:50:51
Update on the National Statement for First Nations in agriculture and the role of Indigenous rangers in biosecurity surveillance.
Topics: First Nations, Biosecurity
Speakers: Speaker 9, Miss Victoria Anderson, Matt Lowe, Senator Glenn Sterle, Unknown Speaker
>> Thank you. Um I just have um uh some First Nations uh policy questions. Um and just starting with um uh how the government has supported stronger engagement with First Nations Australians across agriculture, fisheries and forestry. Um can you update the committee on the work?
>> Um absolutely Senator. So um I I guess kind of a starting point would be um the work that the department has done on the national statement um for first nations in agriculture, fisheries and forestry. Um this was a um this was a piece of work that was pursued through the agriculture ministers meeting. Um so it was a a piece of work that was I guess kind of signed up by um agriculture ministers across Australia. So, a national piece of work, not just a com piece of work. Um, and so I'll pass to colleagues to um talk a bit more about that piece of work, where it's up to and and how it's progressing.
>> Thank you. Good afternoon, Senator Joyce Granger, assistant secretary. Uh, so as uh Mr. Low said, national statement was
provides a shared policy position for governments to support greater First Nations participation in agriculture,
opportunities. leadership and workforce, finance and business support, knowledge
sharing and safeguards, indigenous estate, trade and market access and government coordination. Um, it's got a framework to coordinate effort, share approaches and identify opportunities and it obviously aims to strengthen First Nations economic participation and self-determination.
>> Thank you. And um if I if I might um ask also about the uh the rangers um the indigenous ranger groups are increasingly recognized as important partners in the Australia's biocurity system. Um can the department outline the role they play in the incursions?
So, Senator, um that program is actually managed out of um the next outcome outcome too, but but just suffice to say um the indigenous ranger program which connects into um Minister McCarthy's portfolio as well with other um ranges. But for our purposes uh those communities pay play a vital role in surveillance particularly in the top end but but across Australia in terms of pest and disease uh well monitoring surveillance and and can be mobilized at any time to support u biocurity responses. So I might leave it there and um if you want some more information I'm sure our biocurity colleagues will be
>> I'll come back in the um in the next outcome um if that's okay.
>> Just follow that. Sorry, Senator Le, but um Sison, I had requested on behalf of the committee that the committee could be exposed to the fine work of the ranges in the far north of Australia. >> And of course, I have a lean on the WA side, but it's just as important through the territory in the Queensland. I'd put that to you again not now but into the new year when the you know once we get through the madness that is and give the rangers plenty of time but I'd say the committee will probably write to you saying that we'd like to go up and meet with ranger groups from across the top so the committee can actually see from a biocurity >> point of view the fine work the fine work that those men and women do. Thank
you, chair. I look forward to receiving your letter and I'm sure we can facilitate that if the committee is able
>> Senator,
>> great. Thank you. I might just um leave the those First Nations questions and the rangers to later on then if I may. Um and go to market access.