Effects of changes in water availability on Indigenous people of the Murray-Darling Basin: a scoping study Sue Jackson, Brad Moggridge and Cathy Robinson June 2010 Report to Murray Darling Basin Authority Water for a Healthy Country Flagship Report series ISSN: Australia is founding its future on science and innovation. Its national science agency, CSIRO, is a powerhouse of ideas, technologies and skills. CSIRO initiated the National Research Flagships to address Australia’s major research challenges and opportunities. They apply large scale, long term, multidisciplinary science and aim for widespread adoption of solutions. The Water for a Healthy Country Flagship aims to achieve a tenfold increase in the economic, social and environmental benefits from water by 2025. For more information about Water for a Healthy Country Flagship or the National Research Flagship Initiative visit www.csiro.au/org/HealthyCountry.html Citation: Jackson, S., Moggridge, B, and C.J. Robinson 2010 Effects of changes in water availability on Indigenous people of the Murray – Darling Basin: a scoping study, Report to the Murray Darling Basin Authority. Enquiries should be addressed to: Dr Sue Jackson PMB 44 Winnellie, NT 0822 [email protected] Tel: + 61 8 89448415 © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2010 This work is copyright. With the exception of the photographs, any logo or emblem, and any trademarks, the work may be stored, retrieved and reproduced in whole or in part, provided that it is not sold or used for commercial benefit. Any reproduction of information from this work must acknowledge the Murray– Darling Basin Authority, the Commonwealth of Australia or the relevant third party, as appropriate, as the owner of copyright in any selected material or information. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) or above, no part of this work may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney General’s Department, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 or posted at http://www.ag.gov.au/cca. Disclaimer This document has been prepared for the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and is made available for general use and to assist public knowledge and discussion regarding the integrated and sustainable management of the Basin’s natural water resources. The opinions, comments and analysis (including those of third parties) expressed in this document are for information purposes only. This document does not indicate the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s commitment to undertake or implement a particular course of action, and should not be relied upon in relation to any particular action or decision taken. Users should note that developments in Commonwealth policy, input from consultation and other circumstances may result in changes to the approaches set out in this document. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority commissioned this report, amongst a number of consultancy reports, to examine a range of different aspects of the socio-economic implications of reducing current diversion limits. These studies were conducted at specific points in time during the development of the proposed Basin Plan and aimed to analyse the likely implications of a range of potential scenarios for reducing long- term average diversion limits in order to inform the MDBA on options for setting Sustainable Diversion Limits and other aspects of the proposed Basin Plan. Important Disclaimer CSIRO advises that the information contained in this publication comprises general statements based on scientific research. The reader is advised and needs to be aware that such information may be incomplete or unable to be used in any specific situation. No reliance or actions must therefore be made on that information without seeking prior expert professional, scientific and technical advice. To the extent permitted by law, CSIRO (including its employees and consultants) excludes all liability to any person for any consequences, including but not limited to all losses, damages, costs, expenses and any other compensation, arising directly or indirectly from using this publication (in part or in whole) and any information or material contained in it. Cover Photograph: Description: Toogimbie wetland under Indigenous watering regime, Nari Nari country, Hay, NSW. © 2009 CSIRO ACRONYMS AND INITIALISMS ABARE Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander AIATSIS Studies ANU Australian National University ATSIC Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Commission AWT Aboriginal Water Trust (NSW Government) BMF Barmah-Millewa Forest BRS Bureau of Rural Sciences Cultural Access Licences - Aboriginal (established under the CAL NSW Water Management Act 2000) CDEP Community Development Employment Program CERF Commonwealth Environmental Research Facilities CWEWH Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder CMA Catchment Management Authority CNRM Cultural and Natural Resource Management COAG Council of Australian Governments CRC Cooperative Research Centre CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation DECCW NSW Department Environment, Climate Change and Water DEWHA Department Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural DIPNR Resources DNRE VIC Department of Natural Resources and Environment NSW Department of primary Industry (now Industry and DPI Investment DSE VIC Department of Sustainability and the Environment Environmental Water Allowance (is established under the NSW EWA Water Management Act 2000) EWARG Environmental Water Allowance Reference Group EWA Environmental Water Allowance EWP Environmental Watering Plan LALC Local Aboriginal Land Council LWA Land and Water Australia ILC Indigenous Land Corporation IPA Indigenous Protected Area IPP Indigenous Partnerships Project (MDBA) IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature MDB Murray Darling Basin MDBA Murray Darling Basin Authority MDBC Murray Darling Basin Commission (now MDBA) MLDRIN Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations NGO Non Government Organisation NMDAN Northern Murray Darling Aboriginal Nations NNTC Nari Nari Tribal Council NPWS NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service NSWALC New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council NOW NSW Office of Water NRM Natural Resource Management NWC National Water Commission NWI National Water Initiative RERP Rivers Environmental Restoration Program (under RiverBank) SDL Sustainable Diversion Limit SIA Social Impact Assessment TAFE NSW Technical and Further Education TLM The Living Murray ii TRaCK Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge Water Sharing Plan (established under the NSW Water WSP Management Act 2000) ) YYNAC Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation Volumes of water Different volumes of water are referred to in this document. Volumes of water are measured in litres. One litre 1 litre 1 litre 1 L One thousand litres 1,000 litres 1 kilolitre 1 KL One million litres 1,000,000 litres 1 megalitre 1 ML One billion litres 1,000,000,000 1 gigalitre 1 GL litres Contents ACRONYMS AND INITIALISMS ................................................................................... i FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... 6 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................... 8 2. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................ 11 2.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 11 2.2 Project need ............................................................................................................ 12 2.3 Indigenous people and water reform in the Murray Darling Basin .......................... 13 2.4 Project scope and approach ................................................................................... 16 2.5 Project deliverables ................................................................................................. 17 2.6 Project approach and constraints ............................................................................ 19 2.7 The study area ........................................................................................................ 21 2.8 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 22 2.9 Outline of this report ................................................................................................ 23 3. STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS AND INDIGENOUS PARTICIPATION ................ 24 3.1 Feedback on draft literature review ......................................................................... 27 4. LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................... 30 4.1 Indigenous demography and socio-economic status .............................................. 30 4.2 Indigenous water values .......................................................................................... 40 4.3 River Systems – the ecological foundations of Indigenous livelihoods ................... 41 4.4 The diversity of Indigenous interests ....................................................................... 44 4.5 The special character of