SEA RANGER FORUM

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:17): I seek leave to ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries a question about the South Australian Sea Ranger Forum.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: I understand that the Sea Ranger Forum is being held this month. Can the minister inform the chamber about the purpose of the forum?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:18): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. A forum to discuss the development of a model for the management of South Australian sea country by Aboriginal coastal nations and develop a sea ranger program is being held at West Beach.

The concept of the forum is to engage the coastal Aboriginal community and raise the level of understanding to allow for an informed discussion. The participants will have a chance to meet and listen to existing sea rangers who are actively involved in managing their sea country in the northern parts of Australia and learn how they have gone about their work with government to create partnerships and opportunities. Participants will also hear from PIRSA fisheries and their managers on how the state currently supports the Fisheries Management Act and then, in a collaborative approach, discuss and debate a model that can be supported here in South Australia.

The long-term aim of sea country rangers is to ensure that Aboriginal people are actively involved in the management of their land and sea at strategic, operational and delivery levels. Successful programs are currently being delivered in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the northern and remote communities of Australia. There are varying approaches and models that exist and functions performed by Aboriginal people.

The forum will involve participants from those existing programs coming to South Australia to pass on their knowledge and experience to the South Australian Aboriginal community in order to assist them in putting a model together. As the member indicated, the forum is indeed being held this month on 19 and 20 March at the SARDI Aquatic Sciences Centre. The forum sponsors are Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture, DMITRE and SARDI Aquatic Sciences.

A project team has been established to build the engagement, participation and collaboration between the state's Aboriginal nations and state and commonwealth agencies needed to develop a sea ranger program suitable for South Australia. The program team has a principal investigator who leads a research team with staff from PIRSA, consultants with expertise in Indigenous affairs and marine resource management, and the former commissioner for Aboriginal engagement, Mr Klynton Wanganeen, as co-investigator. The forum will bring together representatives from the coastal Aboriginal nations of South Australia, Aboriginal people working in sea country management around Australia, PIRSA and observers from stakeholders who share an interest in the management of sea country.

Aboriginal people along the coastline of South Australia have a cultural association and relationship to the sea and particular areas to the sea, in the same manner as they do with land. The management of sea country and the sustainable management of fishery resources is vital in continuing the important role that Aboriginal people have in South Australia.

The first day of the forum is about an opportunity to hear from Aboriginal people from around the nation currently participating in the programs. Day 2 will provide attendees with the opportunity to consider and discuss the best way forward for Aboriginal participation in sea country here in South Australia. I am delighted to advise that both the South Australian Fisheries Research Advisory Board and PIRSA have supported the staging of the forum to accomplish the work that is needed in order to achieve the necessary engagement, participation and collaboration between Aboriginal nations and state and commonwealth agencies.

I am sure all involved share the same goal, which is to develop a suitable model to manage sea country for South Australia-based sea rangers. The project is a very good example of a joint enterprise. The state's role is to project manage the initiative, engage with Aboriginal people and ensure effective participation and outcomes for the state recommendations for the forum. These will be used to inform the minister and provide the proposed framework for endorsement by the state government. I obviously look forward to seeing the development of this important work to identify a well-informed plan and strategic approach to building lasting relationships with coastal Aboriginal communities.