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A landmark report calls for serious leadership and investment in the agricultural potential of the First Nations estate, especially if governments are serious about closing the gap and unlocking north Australia’s development potential

The report, commissioned by the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA) and led by the First Nations Portfolio and researchers from the Fenner School of Environment and Society at The Australian National University (ANU), is the first study to examine the agricultural capacity of the First Nations estate, which covers more than 57 per cent of Australia’s landmass.

The study identifies that:

• While a significant amount of primary production occurs on the First Nations Estate, a significant majority of this is not undertaken by First Nations primary production enterprises
• There is still a relatively small, but emerging and unique First Nations primary production industry that is diverse, increasingly financially sustainable, and delivering significant cultural, environmental and social benefits to local First Nations communities
• There is opportunity to grow the First Nations primary production industry so that it makes a significant and unique contribution to the growth targets of Australian primary industries – beyond what the agricultural industry or the Australian Government have contemplated.

Vice-President for First Nations at ANU, Professor Peter Yu, said the opportunity for First Nations people to participate in primary production industries was being missed by governments and businesses across Australia.

“This is not only a considerable economic loss for our First Nations communities but also for the nation,” Professor Yu said.

“Our study shows there is potential to grow the First Nations primary production industry, particularly across the east coast, the southwest corner of Western Australia and our northern coastline.

To achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, the report calls for the creation of a First Nations Primary Industries Taskforce, which would see governments, industry and First Nations organisations work together to establish appropriate frameworks and strategies to foster primary production and agricultural enterprises on the First Nations estate.

The study was co-funded by the CRCNA and the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) and undertaken in partnership with the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Read the report here!