Flinders Ranges

In reply to the Hon. T.A. FRANKS ().27 June 2023).

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Climate, Environment and Water has advised:

1. The Department for Environment and Water works closely with the Adnyamathanha people in relation to their cultural authority and heritage of the Flinders Ranges, in particular through dedicated co-management arrangements. Two co-management boards have undertaken extensive cultural heritage surveys, prepared new park management plans that puts cultural heritage at the centre of park management, and have developed cultural management plans and solutions for particular cultural sites of significance such as Sacred Canyon. Close consultation and collaboration have allowed new interpretive plans for the parks to be developed that include significant cultural information and interpretation including new interpretive signs installed throughout the parks. Co-naming of these parks was also a significant outcome from these processes of consultation and partnership with Adnyamathanha people.

Discussions about World Heritage have been ongoing with individuals, national park co-management boards, and the Cultural Heritage and Native Title group appointed by the administrator for the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association. This consultation supports the consideration of cultural heritage matters in the nomination of the Flinders Ranges for World Heritage Listing.

In March 2023, the Australian government committed to providing $0.5 million over four years to support working with the Adnyamathanha people for obtaining the free, prior and informed consent for the nomination. This is a significant contribution, facilitating how the Adnyamathanha people will contribute and give consent to the nomination.

2. While the Flinders Ranges will be nominated against a geological criterion under the World Heritage Convention, the nomination dossier will reflect the cultural values of the Flinders Ranges.

3. The rigorous requirements of demonstrating outstanding universal value for World Heritage limits the scope of what can be nominated in the Flinders Ranges. The narrative will focus on the dawn of animal life as reflected in the geological and fossil record. Significant cultural sites such as Warratyi will, with the consent of the Adnyamathanha people, be reflected in the nomination dossier.