- Coalition investing an additional $250 million in funding for Indigenous Rangers to 2021.
- The Rangers program has created over 2000 jobs for First Australians around the country.
- Indigenous Rangers deliver important environmental, biosecurity, cultural and economic outcomes for remote communities, rural industries as well as all Australians.
Celebrating over a decade of success across Australia, the Indigenous Rangers program will continue to deliver over 2000 jobs for a further three years whilst also preserving Australia’s unique natural and cultural resources and building economic capacity in communities.
Country Liberal Senator for the Northern Territory and Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, today announced an investment of more than $250 million to support 118 Indigenous Rangers groups for three years to 30 June 2021. This builds on the Government’s previous commitment to fund groups to 30 June 2020.
“The Coalition Government continues to deliver unprecedented support for Indigenous Rangers, delivering record funding to ensure more rangers than ever before are looking after country,” Minister Scullion said.
“Despite Labor and foreign funded green-groups trying to stir up uncertainty over the program’s future, the Coalition is the true friend of Indigenous Rangers – not only did we initially establish the successful program under the Howard Coalition Government – but we have committed more funding than the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd Government ever did.
“The work that continues to be done by rangers around Australia to protect our amazing land and sea country is incredible, and provides real skills and employment opportunities in rural and remote areas – but this work would not be possible without the Coalition Government’s commitment to the program.
“The funding extension brings the Coalition Government’s total commitment to Indigenous rangers to more than $640 million over eight years to 2021. This includes a $30 million investment in the Capacity Building for an Indigenous Rangers Strategy.”
Together with the Indigenous Protected Areas program, the investment in Indigenous rangers provides over 2900 jobs for First Australians.
“First Australians must be front and centre of work done on country – this investment ensures that Indigenous rangers are able to take up increased opportunities in land and sea management, and will also ensure there are more job pathways for First Australians into related careers.”