Indigenous Advisory Committee operating under the EPBC Act

The committee:

• provides advice to the Minister, the Department and other EPBC Act statutory committees on matters relevant to achieving the objects of the EPBC Act
• ensures an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples view is considered in the administration of the EPBC Act and its reform, including by providing advice on best-practice standards for engagement and participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in decision-making
• may provide advice on other matters that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the climate change, energy, the environment, and water portfolio
• develops a publicly available bulletin following each meeting outlining key matters discussed at each meeting.

The EPBC Act is the Australian Government's central piece of environmental legislation that provides a framework for protection of the Australian environment.

The objectives of the EPBC Act [section 3] are to:

• provide for the protection of the environment, especially those aspects of the environment that are Matters of National Environmental Significance - 3.1(a)
• promote ecologically sustainable development through the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of natural resources - 3.1(b)
• promote the conservation of biodiversity - 3.1(c)
• provide for the protection and conservation of heritage - 3.1(ca)
• promote a co-operative approach to the protection and management of the environment involving governments, the community, land-holders and Indigenous peoples - 3.1(d)
• assist in the co-operative implementation of Australia's international environmental responsibilities - 3.1(e)
• recognise the role of Indigenous people in the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity - 3.1(f)
• promote the use of Indigenous peoples' knowledge of biodiversity with the involvement of, and in co-operation with, the owners of the knowledge - 3.1(g).

To achieve its objectives, the EPBC Act [section 3.2(g)] promotes a partnership approach to environmental protection and biodiversity conservation through:

• recognising and promoting Indigenous people's role in, and knowledge of, the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of Australia's biodiversity
• the involvement of the community in management planning.

The EPBC Act provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places. Defined under the Act, these 9 matters of national environmental significance are:

• world heritage properties
• national heritage places
• wetlands of international importance (often called 'Ramsar' wetlands after the international treaty under which such wetlands are listed)
• nationally threatened species and ecological communities
• migratory species
• Commonwealth marine areas
• the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
• nuclear actions (including uranium mining)
• a water resource, in relation to coal seam gas development and large coal mining development.

The EPBC Act also protects the environment when actions are taken:

• on Commonwealth land or impact upon Commonwealth land
• by an Australian Government agency anywhere in the world
• that impact Commonwealth heritage places overseas

All committee members are First Australians and are not appointed to represent particular regions or organisations. Members are ministerially appointed based on expertise in land and sea management, conservation, sustainable use of biodiversity, and cultural heritage management.

Committee members

Mr Duane Fraser, Chair

Ms Teagan Goolmeer, Deputy Chair

Dr Rohan Henry, Member

Dr Cassandra Hunter, Member

Professor Stephen van Leeuwen, Member

Mr Tibau (Stan) Lui, Member

Mr Damian Morgan-Bulled, Member

Ms Liz Wren, Member

Committee business is conducted twice a year when the committee meets face-to-face as well as through out of session work and regular teleconferences. Committee meetings are held in Canberra and committee business is supported by a departmental secretariat.

IAC Meeting 45 - 8-9 March 2023, Canberra, ACT

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 45 (PDF 184 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 45 (DOCX 84 KB)

IAC Meeting 44 - 24-25 November 2022, Canberra, ACT

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 44 (PDF 316 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 44 (DOCX 81.1 KB)

IAC Meeting 43 - 23 March 2022, Videoconference

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 43 (PDF 121 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 43 (DOCX 82.1 KB)

IAC Meeting 42 - 17 August 2021, Videoconference

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 42 Bulletin No. 18 (PDF 191 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 42 Bulletin No. 18 (DOCX 90 KB)

IAC Meeting 41 - 20 April 2021, Videoconference

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 41 Bulletin No. 17 (PDF 147.9 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 41 Bulletin No. 17 (DOCX 87.77 KB)

IAC Meeting 40 - 17 December 2020, Videoconference

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 40 Bulletin No. 16 (PDF 144.07 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 40 Bulletin No. 16 (DOCX 86.07 KB)

IAC Meeting 39 - 26-27 August 2020, Videoconference

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 39 Bulletin No. 15 (PDF 129.83 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 39 Bulletin No. 15 (DOCX 73.32 KB)

IAC Meeting 38 - 31 March - 1 April 2020, Videoconference

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 38 Bulletin No. 14 (PDF 126.67 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 38 Bulletin No. 14 (DOCX 83.62 KB)

IAC Meeting 37 - 10-12 September 2019, Canberra, ACT

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 37 Bulletin No. 13 (PDF 121.21 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 37 Bulletin No. 13 (DOCX 73.77 KB)

IAC Meeting 36 - 29-30 May 2019, Canberra, ACT

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 36 Bulletin No. 12 (PDF 124.25 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 36 Bulletin No. 12 (DOCX 69.87 KB)

IAC Meeting 35 - 23-24 August 2018, Canberra, ACT

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 35 Bulletin No. 11 (PDF 100.45 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 35 Bulletin No. 11 (DOCX 84.37 KB)

IAC Meeting 34 - 22-23 February 2018, Canberra, ACT

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 34 Bulletin No. 10 (PDF 111.48 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 34 Bulletin No. 10 (DOCX 87.37 KB)

IAC Meeting 33 - 27-28 July 2017, Canberra, ACT

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 33 Bulletin No. 9 (PDF 137.15 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 33 Bulletin No. 9 (DOCX 88.78 KB)

IAC Meeting 32 - 29-30 March 2017, Canberra, ACT

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 32 Bulletin No. 8 (PDF 107.87 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 32 Bulletin No. 8 (DOCX 85.64 KB)

IAC Meeting 31 - 1-2 December 2015, Canberra, ACT

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 31 Bulletin No. 7 (PDF 113.2 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 31 Bulletin No. 7 (DOCX 96.67 KB)

IAC Meeting 30 - 27-28 May 2015, Canberra, ACT

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 30 Bulletin No. 6 (PDF 100.02 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 30 Bulletin No. 6 (DOCX 86.82 KB)

IAC Meeting 29 - 4 December 2014, Canberra, ACT

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 29 Bulletin No. 5 (PDF 295.19 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 29 Bulletin No. 5 (DOCX 100 KB)

IAC Meeting 28 - 2-3 April 2014, Canberra, ACT

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 28 Bulletin No. 4 (PDF 337.73 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 28 Bulletin No. 4 (DOCX 120.46 KB)

IAC Meeting 27 - 26-27 November 2013, Canberra, ACT

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 27 Bulletin No. 3 (PDF 342.19 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 27 Bulletin No. 3 (DOC 1.12 MB)

IAC Meeting 26 - 24-25 May 2013, Darwin, Northern Territory

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 26 Bulletin No.2 (PDF 915.55 KB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 26 Bulletin No.2 (DOCX 151.14 KB)

IAC Meeting 25 - 23-25 October 2012, Cairns, Queensland

Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 25 Bulletin (PDF 1 MB)
Indigenous Advisory Committee Meeting 25 Bulletin (DOC 56.5 KB)