Traditional Owners have an inherent right to make decisions
about cultural and natural resource management in north Australia.
In accordance with Article 19 of the United Nations Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Indigenous people must
have a central role in the development, implementation and
evaluation of policy and legislative or administrative measures
that may affect us concerning water.
The NAILSMA Indigenous
Water Policy Group advocates for the recognition of Indigenous
rights to the ownership, management and use of waters for both
customary and commercial purposes. Its advocacy for commercial
rights is a pragmatic response to the COAG Water Reform Agenda,
specifically the National Water Initiative, and the quickening pace
of development in the north of Australia.
