Support of Indigenous rangers shapes up as Qld election issue

Not-for-profit Country Needs People has launched a petition ahead of the state election calling for support to ensure Far North Indigenous rangers are supported into the future.

Normanby Ranger Vince Harrigan on Country in Far North Queensland. Photo: Annette Ruzicka

Not-for-profit Country Needs People has launched a petition ahead of the state election calling for support to ensure Cape York Indigenous rangers are supported into the future.

Queensland’s Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger program creates meaningful jobs throughout the country and specifically within remote areas of Cape York. 

Indigenous rangers reduce feral animal impacts, control invasive weeds, manage fire risks, while protecting threatened species and undertaking erosion repair.

Vince Harrigan from the Balnggarrawarra Tribe of south eastern Cape York works as a ranger at Normanby Station, 40kms northwest of Cooktown.

Vince and Clifford Harrigan at one of the rock art sites at Normanby Station. Photo: Annette Ruzicka.

The diesel fitter by trade stepped away from fixing heavy machinery to take up an on-country position managing an area of savannah woodland and rock art sites within an important catchment that covers an area from the Daintree through to Lakefield National Park and out into Princess Charlotte Bay.

“We do a lot of land and conservation work especially with fire, weeds, feral animals and erosion control,” he said.

“Using the ranger program as a stepping stone we’ve ventured into rock art tours as well.”

As election day looms closer Country Needs People chief executive Patrick O’Leary welcomed a commitment by the LNP to boost investment in the Queensland ranger program.

If elected the LNP will deliver 150 extra rangers during the next four years.

Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker and Lachlan Mitchell and Gavin Singleton from the Yirrganydji Land and Sea Rangers on the boardwalk among the mangroves. Picture: Brendan Radke

“The means existing Indigenous ranger jobs will be secure, and we can look forward to more growth into the future,” Mr O’Leary said.

“Every Queenslander benefits from the work Indigenous rangers do, and every Queenslander should be proud of these rangers and their work.”

Commenting on the creation of the new ranger positions a Miles Labor Government spokesman claimed the only way the LNP could deliver 150 extra rangers would be to make rangers to pay for their own vehicles, their own training and their own equipment.

“And let’s not forget, the LNP cut 60 ranger positions when they were in government,” the spokesman said.

Gunggandji Land and Sea Ranger Jansen Yeatman and Vincent Schriber on the beach at Yarrabah. Picture: Stewart McLean

More than 200 Indigenous rangers are currently working in Queensland across 47 remote and rural locations.

Sign the petition to safeguard the future of these positions at the Country Needs People website.

Labor has funded an additional 104 frontline positions in our parks since 1 July 2023, according to Environment Minister Leanne Linard’s office.

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Originally published as Support of Indigenous rangers shapes up as Qld election issue