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Taungurung Agreement Creating Jobs In Central Victoria

07 January 2021

The Andrews Labor Government is delivering new local jobs as part of a formal agreement recognising the Taungurung people as Traditional Owners of a large area of central Victoria.

The Taungurung Land and Waters Council is creating 17 new jobs, including a range of natural resource management roles such as Park Rangers and Field Services Officers.

With some positions starting this month, the new rangers will work in partnership with Parks Victoria as joint managers of the nine parks and reserves the Taungurung People have Aboriginal Title over, under the Traditional Owner agreement.

The agreement is the outcome of more than three years of negotiations, and covers an area stretching from Rochester and Kyneton in the west to Bright in the east, and Euroa in the north to Kinglake in the south.

The additional resources will ensure that the parks and reserves are well looked after so all Victorians can visit and explore this lovely part of the state for years to come.

Signed in 2018, the agreement recognises the Taungurung people’s Traditional Owner rights to access Crown land to hunt, fish, camp, and gather natural resources.

The agreement was negotiated under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010, which allows for out-of-court settlements to recognise the rights of Victorian Traditional Owners.

Creating opportunities for Taungurung to partner with government agencies and other groups to create meaningful relationships founded on mutual respect is an important step towards self-determination.

The agreement has delivered around $26 million to support the Taungurung peoples’ economic and cultural development, participation in natural resource management, and other self-determination initiatives. It also provides the Taungurung people with an avenue for their culture and connection to country to be supported and promoted.

Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes

“We stand proudly with the Taungurung People – supporting them to continue to protect and preserve their Traditional Owner rights while creating more jobs in central Victoria.”

“This Agreement will generate 17 new jobs, including six park rangers, who will provide vital maintenance and conservation works on Aboriginal Title Lands.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams

“We’re empowering Aboriginal communities in the pursuit of self-determination and land justice – this agreement is another positive step forward for the Taungurung people.”

Quote attributable to Taungurung Land and Water Council CEO Matthew Burns

“In celebrating the commencement of our Agreement, we acknowledge the Taungurung Elders and community who have paved the way to our self-determination – a long hard fight to challenge policy and law that tried to deprive us of our Country.”

Reviewed 07 January 2021

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