The Federal Government has launched the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy, providing a framework for government, industry and communities to place First Nations peoples at the centre of Australia’s energy transformation.
It is guided by six foundational principles, including:
- First Nations peoples maintain their right to live on their land, with access to reliable and affordable clean energy
- First Nations peoples’ cultural heritage must be recognised, protected and celebrated throughout the clean energy transition
The First Nations Clean Energy Strategy’s vision is a sustainable clean energy future for all Australians, with Country and culture at the heart. The vision is underpinned by three goals:
- Empower First Nations communities with clean energy
- Achieve economic benefits with First Nations peoples
- Enable equitable partnerships. A further eleven objectives and 24 priority areas for action support the goals and vision
Hundreds of First Nations, industry and government leaders from around the country participated in roundtables and consultations to design the strategy.
The First Nations Clean Energy Network said it looks forward to working with jurisdictions to ensure it is implemented in partnership with First Nations people, building on the work already underway to guide investment and partnerships with First Nations people in Australia’s clean energy transition.
First Nations Clean Energy Network Co-Chair, Karrina Nolan, said, “We support the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy and its action framework to shape policies, programs and partnerships and ensure investment into First Nations clean energy solutions.
“First Nations people, groups and communities have been listened to, and the barriers and opportunities to realise our clean energy aspirations have been heard.”
Ms Nolan said First Nations people, industry and government have honoured a commitment to First Nations communities – putting First Nations front and centre of the energy transition – and can address access to affordable power, and ensure benefit-sharing, partnerships, and First Nations-led projects.
“The First Nations Clean Energy Strategy is a signal to the First Nations community that the government is backing us, and a signal to industry saying when you prioritise First Nations partnerships, the government will also back you,” she said.
“Resourcing the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy is an investment in consent on our terms. This welcome initial investment is a positive signal to First Nations, and the market, that First Nations clean energy aspirations must be enabled and benefits ensured to deliver mutually beneficial outcomes in Australia’s clean energy transition.”
“Now that the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy has been released, domestic and global investment can be turbocharged into First Nations-led clean energy projects and partnerships.
“Equity and strong partnerships are the purest form of consent, reducing risk, cost and delay. The strategy gives the green light to industry to step up and commit to genuine partnerships with First Nations in clean energy solutions across Australia.”
