Thank you to Senator Pocock for bringing this important motion to the Senate today. Invasive species is an issue that this government has completely ignored, yet they cause incredible harm to country. As First Peoples of these lands, it is our responsibility to look after our country so that country can look after us. For example, feral deer are prevalent on my country—Gunnai country—in eastern Victoria all the way to my country on Gunditjmara country in western Victoria and then to Yorta Yorta country in northern Victoria. We have even had one running down Smith Street, Collingwood, in the same street my office is in in the city. Feral deer hooves damage the soil. They strip understorey plants, ferns and mosses and fungi in sensitive environments, not to mention cultural heritage sites. Eastern Maar in the western districts have done better than anyone else in dealing with feral deer, but it cannot be up to individual nations to deal with invasive species. Invasive species do not stick to borders, not traditional ones and not colonial ones.

Buffel grass is another case of an invasive species that is spreading widely. It is flammable and can contribute to bushfires spreading quickly and becoming uncontrollable. Rock wallabies slip on it and get injured, and it replaces native grasses. Buffel grass is very green, even when there isn't much water. Farmers love it for cattle feed, especially in dry or semidry areas. But it is incredibly flammable and speeds up bushfires. Across central Australia in particular, buffel fuelled fires are contributing to profound changes to country and threatening sacred sites, bush foods and native plants. These increasingly get damaged or destroyed by severe fires. Again, our communities are carrying the consequences, but it cannot be up to individual nations to deal with this.

I think that, as First Peoples, we need to stand together in our fight against invasive species and put those that endorse their protection on notice. In the case of buffel grass, I've raised with the minister for the environment the need to list it as a weed of national significance. This would enable research into effective control methods and allow for more coordinated measures to control it. Individual states have already taken this step, but we need a national approach. This applies to invasive species in general, and we cannot continue a piecemeal approach. That has failed. We need a holistic approach. A first step could be an inquiry into the impacts of invasive species and how they can be effectively managed across the country. This is something that I've also raised with the minister—but, of course, no response, as usual.

Anyway. Aboriginal peoples'—First Peoples'—knowledge needs to be centred when it comes to healing country. Our knowledge of our country is like no other, because we have cared for country for thousands of generations. We know it intimately. We are one with our country. We're not above it. Dealing with invasive species is the first step in healing country for everyone in this country.