CLP budget backflip on Aboriginal rangers

After this week’s budget announcement, the CLP is leaving NT Aboriginal rangers high and dry by scrapping important funding that supported practical land and sea management outcomes in the Territory.

Despite making a bipartisan $12m election commitment to Aboriginal Ranger Grants during the election campaign, the CLP has betrayed the trust of all Territorians who want to see our land and sea country healthy and protected.

Treasurer Bill Yan, who was Shadow Minister for Parks and Rangers at the time said in August 2024, that “if elected [the CLP] will fully fund the program with $12 million over four years.”

Today in Question Time, Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment Joshua Burgoyne has evaded the question about this broken promise to say there is no money left.

Minister Burgoyne went on to say that that the CLP “will continue to work with Aboriginal ranger groups across the Territory to ensure we can support them in their important work moving forward.”

The NLC would like to discuss what support that is, since the $12m election promise has been scrapped by their government.

Since its launch in 2017, the NT Aboriginal Ranger Grants has contributed to the land and sea management across the Territory focused on practical outcomes through supporting rangers with their essential equipment, facilities, skills development to support important jobs on Country. Despite their extensive role, many Indigenous ranger groups are significantly under-resourced to manage their land and sea Country. 

Indigenous ranger programs in the NT deliver long-term environmental, economic and social development outcomes, and continue to be internationally recognised as best-practice natural and cultural resource management models.  

Aboriginal Rangers take on key functions such as border protection, biosecurity surveillance, weed and feral control and actively managing the threat of fire in remote areas. 

The NTG Aboriginal Ranger Grants played a significant part in ensuring our land and sea remains healthy to be enjoyed by generations to come.

This budget silence on Aboriginal Rangers comes at a time when other states such as the 2025 re-elected WA government boosted Aboriginal Ranger grants to $20 million and QLD government increased Aboriginal ranger funding to $24 million in 2023.

The NLC calls on the NT Government to honour their promise.

Quotes attributable to NLC Chair Matthew Ryan:

“After eight years of a program that has contributed to successful land and sea management, this government has revealed it’s plans to leave Aboriginal rangers behind.

“Our Aboriginal rangers are outraged at this broken promise, that puts both jobs and our ability to manage country at risk. This puts at risk the work of all those who rely on our lands and seas, including Territorians and visitors who are here to enjoy the Territory lifestyle.

“I call on the Chief Minister, Minister Burgoyne and Minister Yan, to honour their election promise.”