Caring for the Great Barrier Reef
A timeline of significant events highlighting the proud history of Traditional Owner work and achievements
PRE-COLONISATION
Caring for country undertaken by individuals and clan groups with responsibility for their land and sea estates, under the guidance of elders and other knowledge- holders. These cultural rights and practices continue to underpin contemporary land and sea management.
COLONISATION
1788
European Colonisation beings
1824
1st European fishery in Moreton Bay
1825
Queensland settlement begins
1859
Queensland colony created
1850's
Commercial net fishing begins in Moren Bay
1897
The Aboriginal Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act
1901
Majority of Aboriginal people had been removed onto reserves.
1939
Aboriginals Preservation and Protection Act 1939
1969
Aborigines' and Torres Strait Islanders' Affairs Act 1965
1970 – 1979
1971
Aborigines Act and Torres Strait Islanders Act
1972
UN World Heritage Convention (WHC) Adopted
1974
Australian Government signs the UN World Heritage Convention
1976
Fisheries Act 1976 (QLD)
1975
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975
1975
Federal Racial Discrimination Act 1975
1976
Fisheries Act 1976 (QLD)
1977
Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP)
1977
Torres Strait Treaty
1978
Indigenous Interests recognised in GBRMPA Cairns Section Zoning plan
1979
The Emerald Agreement
1979
Caring for Country movement begins
1980 – 1989
1981
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park inscribed on World Heritage List
1983
Palm Island Ranger Service established
1984
First Aboriginal Land Council formed - Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
1990 - Cape York Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
1994 - North Queensland Land Council
1994 - Torres Strait Regional Authority
2005 - Queensland South Native Title Services Ltd
1984
Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984
1984
Aboriginal and Torres Strat Islander Heritage Protection Act
1985
GBRMPA Traditional Knowledge and the Marine Environment Workshop
1985
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Death in Custody (1987 - 91)
1988
GBRMPA Policies on sustainable take of green turtles and dugongs by Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people developed
1988
First Aboriginal person appointed to the GBRMPA Great Barrier Reef Consultative Committee
1988
Commonwealth Employment Program in Natural and Cultural Resource Management (CEPANCRM), and Aboriginal Rural Resource Initiative (ARRI)
Funding outcome from RCIADIC encouraging reconnection with country and resources
1989
Northern Aboriginal Fisheries Conference
1990 – 1991
1991
Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984aAboriginal Land Act 1991 (QLD) and the Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991 (QLD)
1991
Council of Aboriginal Reconciliation established
1991
Ecological Sustainable Development Working Group Fisheries Report
1992
Mabo v Queensland High Court of Australia Decision
1992
Turning the Tide: Conference on Indigenous Peoples and Sea Rights
1992
UN Convention on Biological Diversity
Signed by Australia, ratified in the EPBC Act 1992
1993
Julayinbul Statement on Indigenous Intellectual Property Rights
1993
Cape York Land acquisition program established
1993
Resource Assessment Commission Coastal Zone Inquiry: Final Report
1994
GBR Marine Park Act 1975 amended to include Aboriginal representation
1994
Torres Strait Regional Authority established
1994
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Coastal Reference Group established
1994
GBR 25 Year Strategic Plan
1995
Indigenous Policy and Liaison Unit (IPLU) GBRMPA established
1996
First Indigenous GBRMPA Board Member appointed
1995
Indigenous Land Corporation (now the Indigenous Land & Sea Corporation)
1997
Sea Forum convened focusing on use and management of dugongs
1997
GBR Ministerial Council directive: Co-management arrangements for dugong be developed with Indigenous Peoples.
1998
Marine Strategy for Torres Strait released
1998
Australia's Oceans Policy
1998
Review of Aboriginal Involvement in the Management on the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area
1998
Yanner Native Title High Court Decision
1998
Sea Forum II: T.O. Governance rights and responsibilities into GBR planning and management
1998
Mer Islanders claim traditional fishing rights under the Torres Strait Treaty.
1999
Native Title Indigenous Land Use Agreements Regulations 1999 (Cth)
1999
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
2000
Hopevale Aboriginal Council launches Turtle and Dugong Hunting Management Plan
2000 – 2019
2000
EPBC Act Indigenous Advisory Committee formed
2000
Croker Island High Court Decision
2000
Four GBRMPA Reef Advisory Committees established with Indigenous representation.
Conservation, Biodiversity World Heritage RAC, Fisheries RAC, Tourism and Recreation RAC, Water Quality and Coastal Development RAC
2000
UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)
2001
Traditional Owner groups worked with GBRMPA for traditional reef names
2002
North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) established
2003
Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia
2003
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan
2003
National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey
2003
National Indigenous Fishing Conference, Perth
2004
Marine Parks Act 2004 (QLD)
2004
Puchiwu Fishing Cooperative at Lockhart River
2004
Budj Bim Cultural Landscape 1st culturally important place included on the National Heritage List.
6 July 2019 - Budj Bim Cultural Landscape became the first site in Australia to be added to the UNESCO World Heritage List purely for its Aboriginal cultural importance.
2004
GBRMPA Representative Areas Program
2004
Marine And Coastal Committee Taskforce on Marine Turtle and Dugong populations
2004
Managing Sea Country Together Report
2004
1st GBRMP Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (Girringun)
2008 - Girringun TUMRA (2nd agreement) 2008 - Wuthathi TUMRA
2009 - Kuuku Ya’u People’s Marine Park ILUA
2011 - Girringun TUMRA (3rd Agreement)
2011 - Port Curtis Coral Coast TUMRA
2013 - Lama Lama TUMRA
2013 - Yuku Baja Muliku TUMRA
2014 - Yirrganydji TUMRA
2014 – Woppaburra TUMRA
2016 – Gunggandji TUMRA
2018 - Mundaburra TUMRA
2021 - Darumbal TUMRA
2005
Torres Strait Island and Sea Management Strategy
2005
National Indigenous Land and Sea Country Workshop
2005
The Wet Tropics Regional Agreement (2005)
2006
Wild River Rangers (renamed Qld Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers)
2007
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) endorsed by Australian government
2008
GBRMPA Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Program
2008
Thuwathu / Bujimulla Sea Country Plan
2008
NAILSMA Dugong and Marine Turtle Program (2005-2008)
2010
Torres Strait Regional Sea Claim Native Title
2010
Saltwater People Network Planning Forum 2010
2011
Cape York Turtle and Dugong Taskforce established
2011
T.O. Sea Country Turtle and Dugong Workshop, Cairns
2012
First GBR Saltwater Women’s Gathering
2012
National Indigenous Sea Country Workshop
2012
Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the GBR amended to include Indigenous cultural values
2012 Reactive Monitoring Mission Report,
2012 Decision 36 - request strategic assessment, long- term plan, targets and review of ports with view to list ‘in danger’
2015 Not listed in danger - Reef
2050 Plan and Investment Framework
2021 Decision 44 - impacts of climate change - adopt Paris Agreement, invite Reactive Monitoring Mission
2022 Reactive Monitoring Mission visit GBR
2013
First World Indigenous Network Conference - Darwin
2013
QLD T.O. Sea Country Turtle and Dugong Workshop
2013
Reef Rescue Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Sponsorship Program
2013
Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia 2017- 2020
2014
Indigenous Sea Country Policy Group - Sea Country Management Policy Framework
2014
Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan Indigenous Targets developed
2015 Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan released
2015
FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication
2016
Indigenous Heritage Expert Group (IHEG) GBRMPA established
2016
Reef 2050 Indigenous Implementation Plan
2016
Girringun Sea Country Forum (Mission Beach)
2016
The Land and Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait (2016-2036)
2017
Daintree Handover Traditional Owners Negotiation Committee
2017
Queensland’s Sustainable Fishing Strategy
2017
Qld Senior Rangers Workshop 2017, Yirrganydji country
2018
GBRF Traditional Owner Advisory Group established
GBR Traditional Owners Program Logic, Reef 2050 GBR T.O. Workshop Reef wide Forum
2019
Strong Peoples Strong Country Framework
2018
T.O. Aspirations Project Report
The Next Generation of Reef 2050 Actions
2019
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Strategy finalised by GBRMPA and Traditional Owners
2019
Human Rights Act 2019 QLD Cultural rights Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples
2019
GBR Regulations 2019 Part 4 TUMRAs
2019
Reef Trust Partnership T.O. Workshop
2020
Australian Institute for Marine Studies Indigenous Partnerships Plan
2020 – CURRENT
2021
GBRF Healing Country Statement
2021
Handback of 4 National Parks to Eastern Kuku Yalanji people for joint management
2021
National First People’s Gathering on Climate Change (Gathering)
2021
Expansion of Sea Country Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) Program
2022
Healthy Water Forum
2022
Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Implementation Plan and ReefTO website and other communication products launched