Trish Cook (Bullwinkel, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's terrific news that the opposition are pro environment after all. I'm new to the parliament, so correct me if I'm wrong, but it was the Liberals that voted against the nature-positive laws in the Senate last year, saying that they went too far, and the Greens voted against them because they didn't go far enough. But it's great to hear that the shadow minister for the environment is very concerned about the environment at long last, and I hope that those changes will come in the near future.

Today I rise to speak to the amendment of the existing Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The act is from 1999, of course. It is old and outdated. But this amendment bill is just to tweak an area which is of considerable importance.

As the member for Bullwinkel my passion for the environment isn't just a political position; it is a deep seated personal commitment. It comes from time spent on frequent bushwalks, appreciating the ancient jarrah forests and the delicate ecosystems in our beautiful Perth Hills. That intimate connection to the land is what fuels my advocacy for our community. It's what drove me, during my time as a local volunteer, to establish the Darlington Community Garden from which my constituents still benefit today. It also drove me to champion the Darlington Wetland Rehabilitation Action Plan, as well as the friends of the native triangle group, trying to protect and restore our local bushland. Labor is the party that will deliver environmental protection, and this bill is just the beginning.

As the member for Bullwinkel, I hold deep respect for our natural environment and the rich cultural heritage that defines our lands and waterways, and I've only lived in this region for 17 years. My electorate encompasses the lands of the Whadjuk and Ballardong peoples of the Noongar nation. It's a place where the connection between land, culture and community is tangible, and that connection has existed for over 65,000 years. It's a relationship that we, in this place, have a responsibility to honour and strengthen. I saw this connection between lands and Indigenous cultures firsthand when I worked as a remote area nurse in the remote Kimberley.

The bill before the House today, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Board of Management Functions) Bill 2025, is an amendment to the existing act. It's a time-critical measure that will allow continued significant and positive management of our most precious Commonwealth environmental reserves. The bill directly aligns with the Albanese government's commitment to provide traditional owners with greater control and genuine authority over the management of their country. It is a small but crucial step that supports the improved relationship between the Australian government, the Director of National Parks and the traditional owners of our jointly managed Commonwealth reserves, which is a priority for this government.

To understand the necessity of the bill, we must first understand the unique governance model of our jointly managed Commonwealth reserves. These places are of immense national and international significance—Kakadu National Park, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and Booderee National Park. In these reserves, the land is owned by the traditional owners who then lease it to the Commonwealth to be managed as a national park. At the heart of this is a joint management model and a board of management. This isn't just a committee. It's a genuine partnership where traditional owners have a decisive voice. These boards are appointed by the minister and, crucially, are comprised of Indigenous people, as a majority, who are nominated by the traditional owners themselves. Through these boards, their knowledge, wisdom and deep connection with the country informs every decision about its management.

Under the current legislation, the boards of management are empowered to make decisions in line with a formal management plan. The problem is that these management plans have a finite life span. When a plan expires, so too does the legal authority of the board of management to make decisions. The decision-making functions cease, and a governance vacuum is created.

This bill addresses that very specific and very significant problem. It is simple yet powerful, an easy fix. It amends the EPBC Act to allow the boards of management for these jointly managed Commonwealth reserves to continue to make decisions regarding the management of the reserve after a management plan has expired. The only condition is that those decisions must remain consistent with the most recently expired management plan. It's an administrative fix. This is a measure of common sense and respect. It ensures there is no gap in decision-making authority between the expiration of one management plan and the commencement of the new one. Without this bill a board could be rendered powerless at a critical moment, unable to make a decision on an urgent matter such as fire management, a biosecurity threat or a necessary change to visitor access. Such a delay could have serious implications for the health and public safety of people visiting the area.

This bill will support the effective participation of Indigenous people in matters relating to the management of their own country. It will ensure the continuity of decision-making, allowing for seamless governance. It doesn't change the role of the Director of National Parks or any existing arrangements; it simply removes an unnecessary bureaucratic roadblock that hinders the very partnership it seeks to foster.

In essence, this bill is an acknowledgement. It is an acknowledgement of the enduring leadership of traditional owners and their rightful place at the centre of conservation. It is an acknowledgement that the knowledge and wisdom that they've passed down for generations is not just history; it is a living, breathing guide for the sustainable management of our lands. In my own electorate and across Western Australia, I have seen the powerful outcomes that are possible when we empower traditional owners and work together in genuine joint partnerships, and this bill is a reflection of that principle. It's about trusting Indigenous leaders and ensuring that they have the tools to continue to care for country, even when a document has reached its expiry date. This is a straightforward bill with enormous purpose. It is about closing a loophole, strengthening a partnership and empowering the people who have been the rightful custodians of this land for millennia. I commend the bill to the House.

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