The 2018 State of the Environment Report for South Australia acknowledged that it did 'not explicitly reflect the perspectives of Aboriginal people’, that the report ‘would be more complete with this perspective’ and that this ‘will be addressed in the next report’.

During the preparation of the 2023 State of the Environment Report, engagement was carried out with Aboriginal peoples and an expert paper was also commissioned to explore how the South Australian Government could more effectively engage and actively involve First Nations people in monitoring, reporting on and caring for Country.

The expert paper identified that, internationally, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework ‘acknowledges the important roles and contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities as custodians of biodiversity and as partners in its conservation, restoration and sustainable use’.

The paper also points out that the Australia State of the Environment Report 2021 emphasised the importance of including First Nations values, knowledge and expertise ‘to create the first holistic assessment of the current state of Australia’s environment’, ‘highlighting the importance of cultural knowledge that has sustained Australia for tens of thousands of years’.

The expert paper suggests that the achievement of more effective Aboriginal engagement and active involvement in caring for Country in South Australia would require the adoption of a formal, structured and resourced process.

The paper suggests that the establishment of a First Nations Expert Environment Committee would be an important first step, with appropriate commitment, support and partnerships provided by the South Australian Government. The aim would be for this committee to partner in the co-development and co-delivery of a framework to facilitate ‘best practice engagement of First Nations peoples in environmental research, monitoring, risk assessment, management and reporting’.

The South Australian Government has previously made a commitment to ‘Establish an Aboriginal Ministerial Advisory Group to ensure the minister for the environment hears directly from Aboriginal people^’[1] and that ‘The (new) Biodiversity Act will incorporate the knowledge of Aboriginal South Australians in the management of land and respect for its ecosystems’^[2]. The SA First Nations Voice to Parliament is also in the process of being established.

^[1] South Australian Labor (election commitment): For the Future – Environment: Protecting Parks

^[2] South Australian Labor (election commitment): For the Future – Plan for Biodiversity Protection