Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00100:front:0:p13
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00100
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 38140–41392

values in marine parks through the development of values statements. The Director is committed to respecting the cultural authority of First Nations people for their values and will seek the free, prior and informed consent of First Nations people before recording, storing or sharing information on First Nations values. The Director will seek to implement best-practice approaches for managing Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP). This includes adhering to the principles of Indigenous Data Sovereignty and using data sharing agreements, as appropriate.
Engagement through the South-east Saltwater Council
Alliance-based approaches can effectively strengthen First Nations voices, relationships, collective actions and solutions, and their collaborative investment in Sea Country. A key mechanism for engaging with First Nations will be through alliances, particularly the newly established South-east Saltwater Council. Parks Australia will work with Traditional Owners to explore and support this model, and any discrete partnerships that may arise.
The South-east Saltwater Council brings together Traditional Owners from coastal Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Initiated by Traditional Owners of the region, the council serves as a First Nations-led forum prioritising healthy Sea Country and governance for the collective good by providing a safe space for discussion and agreement-making.
Engagement through the South-east Saltwater Council does not preclude other partnership mechanisms identified over the life of this plan, in the interests of culturally safe and appropriate management. The Director will also engage with individual relevant Native Title representative bodies and Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations as needed.

Principles for working in partnership with First Nations people
Parks Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners as essential partners in the management of Sea Country within Australian Marine Parks, and recognise their historical exclusion from managing country
The following partnership principles were developed with guidance from the South-east Saltwater Council. They are based on engagement principles first published in 2018, following collaboration between the Director and representatives from land councils, Native Title representative bodies, and Indigenous ranger groups.
The principles published here are preliminary working principles intended to guide how Parks Australia and the South-east Traditional Owners work together. These principles are intended to be further refined through the co-design of a Sea Country Strategy for the South-east Network. The most up-to-date version of the principles will be made available online. This approach provides opportunities for review in collaboration with Traditional Owners, ensuring the principles evolve over time as we continue to learn and strengthen our working relationship.

Table 1.2 – First Nations partnership principles
Principle 1: It is recognised that First Nations people have been sustainably using and managing their Sea Country, including areas now included within Australian Marine Parks, for many thousands of years – in some cases since before rising sea levels created these marine environments