Trevor is a Yalangi man from Cape York who holds deep familial ties to Princess Charlotte Bay and Palmer River country in the Cape York Peninsula.

For many thousands of years, Aboriginal and Islander people walked across this beautiful land and left nothing but their footprints.

Because for us, people, culture and environment are inseparable - they are one and the same. Land and sea are mother and father - they need to be put first.

So for Aboriginal and Islander people January 26 is not a day to celebrate. It represents the beginning of colonial massacres in this country, and the downfall of the natural environment as it was then.

Our people still need healing. This country and the environment still need healing. And celebrating on this day, which marks the beginning of so much harm, only makes things worse.

Instead, we need to celebrate our land and environment, and the original cultures of Australia - from the mainland, as well as Island cultures of the Torres Strait, Tiwi Island, Christmas Island and beyond.

We can celebrate our modern Australia along with our ancient cultures, if there is respect given to all who have given and sacrificed so much to our country. Especially our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stewardship of our environment for thousands of years. We need to celebrate great Australians like David Unaipon, Neville Bonner, Eric Deeral, and the inspiring and influential Aboriginal and Islander people who walk among us today.

There’s a lot to celebrate in Australia, but we need to do it in the right way, at the right time. Only when we do that will we truly begin the real healing of people, country and the natural environment.

Trevor Meldrum
Yalangi man from Cape York
CEO of Cape York Weeds and Feral Animals Incorporated
Biosecurity Mates ambassador
Chair of QCC Board

Queensland's new premier has ordered the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry to cease immediately as one of his first acts, but the decision has raised concern among Indigenous communities.

The inquiry was launched in early 2024 to examine the impacts of colonisation on First Nations people.

But newly-elected Premier David Crisafulli has confirmed the new government will be ceasing all future Truth Telling across the state immediately.

The chair of Queensland’s truth-telling and healing inquiry, Joshua Creamer, says the new premier, David Crisafulli, should “just have the decency to front up” to First Nations people, after delivering an edict via the media for the inquiry to immediately cease its work.

Mr Creamer, a Waanyi and Kalkadoon man, told reporters earlier this month after news broke that the inquiry had been cancelled, he had still received no communication from the Premier or any member of the new LNP Government.

As a Gamilaraay, Ngurabul First Nation descendant and the Protect Country Strategist for the Queensland Conservation Council, I respectfully acknowledge all our strong proud old Aunties and Uncles and other First Nations people and communities that have been campaigning for a very long time for us to tell our stories of trauma and transgenerational trauma and how various government policies have had negative physical, mental, social and political impacts on our people.

Growing up on a government controlled mission, I truly understood these impacts and I, along with many First Nations people and communities, believed that an inquiry such as this was truly needed.

But along with other First Nations people I feel like we have been kicked in the guts and sent back before the 1967 Referendum, with NO RIGHTS left for us in 2024.

Within QCC, one of our core mandates is that we have proudly supported the Reconciliation Action Plan, Closing the Gap and other important political and more importantly, social and environmental issues that First Nations People face today.

Paul Spearim
Protect Country Strategist
Queensland Conservation Council

Queensland's peak environment group has welcomed a new commitment from the state LNP to fund an additional 150 rangers in the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers should it win next month's election.

The Queensland Conservation Council said today's commitment would help address historic under-resourcing of the state's National Parks management compared with other Australian states.

Queensland Conservation Council strongly opposes the introduction of nuclear power into Australia, and calls on opposition Leader Peter Dutton to abandon his dangerous proposal to site nuclear power on the country of First Nations people.

Australia has a shameful history of forcing nuclear harm on First Nations, with the explosion of nuclear bombs for the British Government at Maralinga on the lands of the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara peoples, at Emu Field on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands, and Monte Bello Islands off the WA Coast, and the forced imposition of mining of uranium on the lands of the Mirarr People in Kakadu, and elsewhere.

High level nuclear waste remains radioactive for hundreds of thousands of years. Currently, there are no long duration storage facilities for nuclear waste anywhere in the world, and most nuclear waste is kept in temporary storage near to the nuclear power stations that generate it. This waste will be stored in a temporary and unsafe manner, in storage devices that themselves will become radioactive.

I was so chuffed that Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland invited me to speak at their Climate Leaders event in Yeppoon. The 60 attendees willing to step up for a safer future in challenging circumstances were an absolute inspiration.

Our precious ecosystems called 'head west young man', despite my more advanced age. A couple hundred kilometers later we were in the town of Dingo on Gangulu Country, where coal mining threatens to subsume this proud agricultural region.

Conservation groups have today welcomed the Queensland Government's continued investment in joint management of national parks on Cape York Peninsula and highlighted the importance of the $14.8 million funding for joint management in achieving state and national targets.

Australia is home to the oldest continuous culture on Earth. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been caring for Country for millennia. First Nations people are the first scientists and leaders in nature restoration, land management and climate solutions.

We stand together as leaders representing a movement of over two million Australians whose commitment to a healthy climate and thriving environment is rooted in the shared values of justice, equality and fairness.

The 2023 Queensland budget, released this week, has been an opportunity for the state to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to protecting our climate, communities and nature for future generations.

Overall this budget is extremely positive for the state. With record investment in long-term infrastructure for renewable energy projects, immediate cost-of-living relief on energy bills for all households, and funding to increase national parks and prevent land clearing, there are many things to celebrate.

Much of this has been funded by a modest increase in royalties on the superprofits of Queensland coal companies, meaning those who contributed most to the climate and cost of living crisis are finally helping pay for the renewable energy solutions.

The Queensland Conservation Council, today welcomed the handback of the Jardine River and Denham Group National Parks as well as part of Jardine River and Heathlands Departmental and Special Purpose Reserves to the Gudang/Yadhaykenu, Atambaya and Angkamuthi (Seven Rivers) people. 

This significant event will see a total of 362,000 hectares of land returned to First Nations ownership. Under the hand back arrangements, the land will be granted to the Ipima Ikaya Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC and the Atambaya Aboriginal Corporation on behalf of the Traditional Owners. They will take back ownership of the newly renamed Apudthama National Park  which will be jointly managed with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. 

“Queensland Conservation Council strongly welcomes this handback. Returning these parks to the traditional owners is the best way to protect the area’s natural and cultural values,'' said the Queensland Conservation Council’s Director, Dave Copeman. 

“This handback and the Premier’s personal participation marks the significance of this handback to all Queenslanders. We acknowledge the government’s continued leadership in the growth and support of First Nations’ management of our protected area estate” 

“First Nations peoples hold unique knowledge and rights inherited from their ancestors and have cared for the Cape since time immemorial. We welcome the transfer of significant parts of the resource reserve to the new National Park, expanding the total National Parks area in Queensland.  

Since 1995, the Cape York land tenure resolution process has returned 4.3 million hectares of land to Aboriginal ownership. 

For more information: 

Dave Copeman - Director - Queensland Conservation Council - [email protected] 

0408 841 595

QCC’s Deputy Chair Sherie Bruce, a proud Arrernte woman of Mparntwe (Alice
Springs) shares the importance of this year’s NAIDOC Week theme, ‘Heal Country’.

NAIDOC Week occurs annually each July, where the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are celebrated by Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. This year, NAIDOC Week runs from July 4 to July 11.

The theme for 2021 is Heal Country; which encourages embracing First Nations peoples cultural understanding and knowledge of Country as part of their personal identity and Australia's national heritage. 

The English word ‘Country’ is a belief system that goes far beyond the Western definition. For Australian First Nations ‘Country’ means our family, kin, law, ceremony, traditions, language, nature, and land are all interconnected. Country includes landforms, air, plants, waters, knowledge, and special places. Every community in each Nation has custodial responsibilities to care for their Country and is central to our spirituality and identity. 

Healing is a change, a change in each person and our nation. Beginning with recognition of other cultures different to yours, recognition of Australia’s past history. The Healing continues with accepting that past and walking together with Australia’s First Nations.

Healing Country means embracing First Nation’s cultural knowledge and understanding of Country as part of Australia’s national heritage.

Please take the time to learn more about Australia’s First Nations and support them in protecting and Healing Country.

https://www.protectcountrynt.org.au/
https://www.seedmob.org.au/ban_fracking