Submission
The State Government’s consultation paper about changing the Aboriginal Lands Act 1995, suggesting that reserves might be returned under that Act, was released months after the Government-commissioned Pathway to Truth-Telling and Reconciliation report. The report recommended legislating for Aboriginal protected areas and establishing as the first such area the kooparoona niara Aboriginal Protected Area (previously proposed by the TNPA and other groups as the kooparoona niara (Great Western Tiers) National Park).
The TNPA’s submission responding to the consultation paper urged that legislation for Aboriginal protected areas be developed at the same time as amendments of the Aboriginal Lands Act 1995, so that the kooparoona niara (Great Western Tiers) Aboriginal National Park could be established and well-informed decisions could be made about returning reserves to Aboriginal people.
Great Western Tiers. Photo: Rob Blakers
The Tasmanian National Parks Association offers an independent voice for Tasmania’s national parks and reserves, to ensure they are managed for the conservation of the values for which they were proclaimed.