Senator The Hon Murray Watt, Minister for the Environment and Water
Senator The Hon Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians
Matt Smith MP, Member for Leichhardt
A dedication ceremony for the Wik Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) in Far North Queensland has been celebrated in Aurukun this week, strengthening the Wik Peoples' capacity to continue caring for and managing Country and maintaining cultural knowledge for future generations.
The dedication ceremony was held on Friday alongside Aak Ngampram Day, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the historic Wik High Court decision in 1996.
The newly dedicated Wik IPA covers 156,213 hectares of Wik Homelands on the western Cape York Peninsula. It's home to ecologically and culturally important ecosystems including vast expanses of wetlands and waterholes, estuaries and beaches on the Gulf of Carpentaria, savannah woodlands, and riparian rainforests. These areas are home to many migratory bird species, as well as threatened and endangered species like the Olive Ridley Turtle, sawfish, the spectacled flying fox, northern hopping mouse and northern quoll.
A defining feature of the Wik IPA is its clan‑based governance model, which ensures that decision‑making authority rests with the Traditional Owners of each clan estate.
The recently formed Wik Rangers will support management activities across the Wik IPA, including feral animal and weed control, threatened species protection and biodiversity monitoring.
The protection of culturally important sites and the preservation and passing on of Wik language and other traditional knowledge and practices will also be strengthened through this IPA.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt:
"Congratulations to the Wik Peoples for the dedication of this Indigenous Protected Area, which will protect connection to Country and boost local decision-making.
"The Albanese Government is committed to protecting and conserving 30 percent of our land and 30 percent of our oceans by 2030, and IPAs are a meaningful way we're achieving this."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy:
"The Wik IPA strengthens long standing efforts by Wik Projects, its partners and the Aurukun community to protect the region's biodiversity and keep Country healthy.
"The dedication recognises the cultural and ecological significance of this diverse Country and is celebrated alongside Aak Ngampram Day, a testament to both the enduring connection of Traditional Owners to Country and the strength of Indigenous self-determination.
"The Albanese Government is proud to support Traditional Owners and First Nations communities to manage land and sea Country through our IPA and Indigenous Rangers Programs, which includes the Wik Rangers."
Quotes attributable to Member for Leichhardt Matt Smith:
"This area is important to the environment, and home to many threatened species. That's why protecting it, and prioritising local knowledge is critical.
"The dedication is also an important step in supporting cultural, social, environmental and economic outcomes for future generations.
"What a great milestone, congratulations to all those involved."
