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

1897

The Aboriginal Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act

1850's

Commercial net fishing begins in Moren Bay

1859

Queensland colony created

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

1975

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975

1975

Federal Racial Discrimination Act 1975

1977

Torres Strait Treaty

1976

Fisheries Act
1976 (QLD)

1977

Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP)

1978

Indigenous Interests recognised in GBRMPA Cairns Section Zoning plan

1979

Caring for Country movement begins

1979

The Emerald Agreement

1980 – 1989

1983

Palm Island Ranger Service established

1981

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park inscribed on World Heritage List

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

Aboriginal and Torres Strat Islander Heritage Protection Act

1987

The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Death in Custody (1987 - 91)

1984

Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984

1985

GBRMPA Traditional Knowledge and the Marine Environment Workshop

1988

First Aboriginal person appointed to the GBRMPA Great Barrier Reef Consultative Committee

1988

GBRMPA Policies on sustainable take of green turtles and dugongs by Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander people developed

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 – 1999

1991

Ecological Sustainable Development Working Group Fisheries Report

1991

Council of Aboriginal Reconciliation established

1991

Aboriginal Land Act 1991 (QLD) and the Torres Strait Islander Land Act 1991 (QLD)

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

Native Title Act (C1th)

1993

Cape York Land acquisition program established

1993

Julayinbul Statement on Indigenous Intellectual Property Rights

1993

Resource Assessment Commission Coastal Zone Inquiry: Final Report

1994

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Coastal Reference Group established

1994

Torres Strait Regional Authority established

1994

GBR 25 Year Strategic Plan

1995

Indigenous Land Corporation (now the Indigenous Land & Sea Corporation)

1995

Indigenous Policy and Liaison Unit (IPLU) GBRMPA established

1994

GBR Marine Park Act 1975 amended to include Aboriginal representation

1996

First Indigenous GBRMPA Board Member appointed

1997

Sea Forum convened focusing on use and management of dugongs

1997

Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) program established

1997

GBR Ministerial Council directive: Co-management arrangements for dugong be developed with Indigenous Peoples.

1998

Marine Strategy for Torres Strait released

1998

Review of Aboriginal Involvement in the Management on the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area

1998

Yanner Native Title High Court Decision

1998

Australia's Oceans Policy

1998

Mer Islanders claim traditional fishing rights under the Torres Strait Treaty.

1998

Sea Forum II: T.O. Governance rights and responsibilities into GBR planning and management

1999

Native Title Indigenous Land Use Agreements Regulations 1999 (Cth)

1999

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

2000

Croker Island High Court Decision

2000

Hopevale Aboriginal Council launches Turtle and Dugong Hunting Management Plan

2000

EPBC Act Indigenous Advisory Committee formed

2000 – 2019

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)

2003

Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia

2001

Traditional Owner groups worked with GBRMPA for traditional reef names

2002

North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) established

2003

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan

2003

National Indigenous Fishing Conference, Perth

2003

National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey

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

Puchiwu Fishing Cooperative at Lockhart River

2004

Marine Parks Act 2004 (QLD)

2004

GBRMPA Representative Areas Program

2004

Managing Sea Country Together Report

2004

Marine And Coastal Committee Taskforce on Marine Turtle and Dugong populations

2005

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

The Wet Tropics Regional Agreement (2005)

2005

National Indigenous Land and Sea Country Workshop

2005

Torres Strait Island and Sea Management Strategy

2006

Wild River Rangers (renamed Qld Indigenous Land and Sea Rangers)

2007

Working on Country Program

2007

UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) endorsed by Australian government

2008

NAILSMA Dugong and Marine Turtle Program (2005-2008)

2008

Thuwathu / Bujimulla Sea Country Plan

2008

GBRMPA Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Program

2010

Torres Strait Regional Sea Claim Native Title

2011

Cape York Turtle and Dugong Taskforce established

2010

Saltwater People Network Planning Forum 2010

2011

T.O. Sea Country Turtle and Dugong Workshop, Cairns

2012

National Indigenous Sea Country Workshop

2012

First GBR Saltwater Women’s Gathering

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

Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia 2017- 2020

2013

QLD T.O. Sea Country Turtle and Dugong Workshop

2013

First World Indigenous Network Conference - Darwin

2013

Reef Rescue Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Sponsorship Program

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

Reef 2050 Indigenous Implementation Plan

2016

The Land and Sea Management Strategy for Torres Strait (2016-2036)

2016

Indigenous Heritage Expert Group (IHEG) GBRMPA established

2017

Queensland’s Sustainable Fishing Strategy

2016

Girringun Sea Country Forum (Mission Beach)

2017

Daintree Handover Traditional Owners Negotiation Committee

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

2018

T.O. Aspirations Project Report
The Next Generation of Reef 2050 Actions

2019

Strong Peoples Strong Country Framework

2019

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Strategy finalised by GBRMPA and Traditional Owners

2019

GBR Regulations 2019 Part 4 TUMRAs

2019

Reef Trust Partnership T.O. Workshop

2019

Human Rights Act 2019 QLD Cultural rights Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples

2020 – CURRENT

2021

Handback of 4 National Parks to Eastern Kuku Yalanji people for joint management

2020

Australian Institute for Marine Studies Indigenous Partnerships Plan

2021

Expansion of Sea Country Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) Program

2021

National First People’s Gathering on Climate Change (Gathering)

2021

GBRF Healing Country Statement

2022

Healthy Water Forum

2022

Reef 2050 Traditional Owner Implementation Plan and ReefTO website and other communication products launched

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