While this one event is not of decisive impact in itself, it points to a possible likely trend, where Australia’s vital resource of water is given to indigenous groups outside of native title challenges. The Allan Labor Government is returning water to Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners in Gippsland. Gunaikurnai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) will be given two licences for cultural water use. This will be one of 200 megalitres at Buchan Munji, as well as 500 megalitres of water for the Tambo River. This is to support an alleged deep spiritual connection to the water. Now, to be clear, I have no objection to any Australian having a fair access to water, but water is the scarce resource in this driest continent on Earth.
Yet, could not the same argument about spirit connection be made over all waterways in Australia? Given this political precedent, what is to stop native title being turbo-charged to go after waterways rather than just land? After all, that has not been done to date much, but there is no reason why it will not occur in he future so long as the native title regime exists, which has given around 60 percent of the country to native title.
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/site-4/returning-water-gippslands-traditional-owners
“The Allan Labor Government is returning water to Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners in Gippsland – strengthening their connection to Country through better cultural water management.
Minister for Water Harriet Shing announced that Southern Rural Water has issued Gunaikurnai Land and Water Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) two licences for cultural water use – one of 200 megalitres at Buchan Munji, as well as 500 megalitres of water for the Tambo River.
At Buchan Munji, GLaWAC intends to hold the water in an aquifer for cultural purposes and to restore and maintain the health of Country.
These water licences support Gunaikurnai connections to Country and support GLaWAC to own and manage water for spiritual, cultural, environmental, and social economic purposes.
The Labor Government is working with Traditional Owners to improve their access to water and their involvement in water management, benefiting Traditional Owners and all Victorians through the release of Water is Life: Traditional Owner Access to Water Roadmap.
This builds on a 2,000 megalitre water licence from the Mitchell River in Gippsland to GLaWAC in 2021 and another 2,500 megalitres of unallocated winter fill water from the Palawarra (Fitzroy River) system to Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation in southwest Victoria for cultural purposes.
The Government acknowledges and respects that Traditional Owners have a deep and ongoing cultural, spiritual and economic connection to land, water and resources.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Water Harriet Shing
“Currently Traditional Owners hold less than 0.2 per cent of all water access entitlements in Victoria and that’s why the Water is Life roadmap is so important – this work has begun but there is still a long way to go as we continue to support the return and management of water to Traditional Owners.”
“These two water licences are the result of extensive collaboration between Southern Rural Water and GLaWAC and will ensure better spiritual, cultural and environmental outcomes.”
Quotes attributable to GLaWAC CEO Daniel Miller
“Returning water rights to Gunaikurnai Traditional Owners opens a door long closed, restoring the custodial rights to say how, if and when to call on water for Country, and water for mob.”
“The return of these licences are a tribute to the Elders who have fought for many years for water justice, and paves the way for strengthened sharing of traditional knowledge, customary practice and a self-determined future.”
Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh
“These allocations for GLaWAC will help facilitate cultural connection and healthier waterways. We have so much to gain from engaging with Traditional Owners when it comes to the management of our natural resources.”
Quote attributable to Southern Rural Water Managing Director Cameron FitzGerald
“Southern Rural Water is committed to supporting Traditional Owner groups with self-determination. We are very proud of our role to support these water allocations.”
“While many of us may take water for granted, to traditional owners water is life.
Key points:
- The Victorian government today announced the return of more water to Gunaikurnai traditional owners
- Licences for cultural water use have been issued for Buchan Munji and the Tambo River
- Traditional owners hold just 0.2 per cent of all water access entitlements in Victoria
For thousands of generations, Indigenous Australians have used the natural resource for drinking, fishing, and washing.
But since colonisation, Indigenous communities have largely been excluded from the management of waterways.
This is because Native Title falls short of stipulating a clear right to take or manage water, other than small amounts for cultural purposes.
Although native title covers 40 per cent of Australia's land, Aboriginal people hold less than 1 per cent of all water licences granting access to the nation's surface water.
Water is life
Uncle Lloyd Hood from the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) has long been advocating for this to change.
"Water has always been the very core of our existence," Mr Hood said.
"We think we can look after the rivers better," he said.
"Look at some of the rivers that have irrigation – it's all mud, it's full of carp.
"That's not what we're about. We used to be able to drink out of that, our people."
A 2022 Victorian government document recommends recognising significant waterways as living entities(ABC Gippsland)
In November 2020, following years of campaigning, GLaWAC was granted two gigalitres of unallocated water in East Gippsland's Mitchell River.
Now, more water is being returned to the Gunaikurnai traditional owners in a bid to further strengthen their connection to country.
Under a deal announced on Thursday by the Victorian government, the two new licences are at Buchan Munji, for 200 megalitres, and the Tambo River, for 500mL.
GLaWAC CEO Daniel Miller said the importance of this decision could not be understated.
"It's one piece of a really complex puzzle, lining up all these roles of First Nations people as land managers and as future custodians," Mr Miller said.
"There are so many people in the Aboriginal community who have never really had a say in what happens in their own country.
"This is another example of where we can start to change – to help people feel connected to their own land."
Returning custodial rights
Following the Victorian government's decision to return this water to the Gunaikurnai people, GLaWAC now has the ability to "self-determine" how it is used.
But Mr Miller said the organisation would not rush into decisions and would first focus on preservation of the natural environment.
"There's been such a long period of time of having little say on their own country, so it takes a little while for people to get back in the groove of a feeling in control," he said.
In announcing the allocation, the Victorian government said it acknowledged and respected the deep cultural, spiritual, and economic connection to land, water, and resources that traditional owners had.
Minister for Water Harriet Shing said there was still a long way to go when it came to returning water to Indigenous communities across the state.
"These two water licences are the result of extensive collaboration between Southern Rural Water and GLaWAC," Ms Shing said.
Southern Rural Water added that it is proud of its role in the water allocations and is committed to supporting traditional owners with self-determination.”