Royal Commission submission calls for investment in cultural burning

A group of researchers from the University of Melbourne recently took the opportunity to call for greater investment in Indigenous land management and cultural burning practices.

The devastating 2019–20 bushfire season is one of the worst on record, with significant loss of life, habitat and homes. The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements and the Inquiry into the 2019-20 Victorian Bush Fire Season have both been established to investigate the 2019–20 bushfire season and consider ways to improve Australia's resilience and response to uncontrolled bushfires.

Researchers with an interest in cultural burning across the University of Melbourne and beyond, prepared submissions to the Royal Commission and Victorian Inquiry which argued for greater investment in Indigenous land management, caring for Country and cultural burning practices. They stated that Governments across Australia must work in partnership with Indigenous communities and Indigenous knowledge holders to care for Country, in order to build Australia’s resilience to natural disasters, including bushfires.

Read the full submission to the Royal Commission

Read the Executive Summary of the Royal Commission submission

Read the full submission to the Victorian Inquiry

For more information...

Contact Associate Professor Michael-Shawn Fletcher