29 April, 2025
INTERVENTION by the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council.
Thank you, Madam/Mister Chairperson,
I speak today on behalf of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council. I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we meet and pay my respects to all Indigenous Peoples gathered here.
The Permanent Forum’s mandate is critically important as we face escalating challenges to our rights, lands, and cultural survival. The NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 is a landmark achievement for our people, but the realization of its full potential is hindered by systemic barriers, insufficient resources, and inadequate recognition of Aboriginal self-determination in practice.
We urge the Forum to prioritise the following emerging issues:
- The intersection of climate action and Indigenous land management, including the recognition of Indigenous Peoples as partners in biodiversity stewardship and carbon economies.
- Strengthening Indigenous governance systems to ensure that the transfer of land, decision-making authority, and economic resources is aligned with the UNDRIP.
- Addressing barriers to Indigenous economic participation, including fair access to capital, markets, and capacity building initiatives that enable our communities to develop sustainable economies on our lands.
As we look to the future work of the Forum, we call for a stronger emphasis on land rights implementation and economic empowerment as foundational to the self-determination and wellbeing of Indigenous Peoples globally.
Land is more than an asset—it is our law, our identity, and our responsibility.
Finally, we encourage the Forum to work closely with the Economic and Social Council and Member States to ensure that the commitments from the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples are embedded into national policies, especially regarding land rights, free, prior, and informed consent, and Indigenous-led development.
We stand ready to collaborate with the Forum, UN agencies, and Indigenous Peoples worldwide to ensure our rights to land, culture, and prosperity are not just recognised but fully realised.
Always Was, Always Will Be.