| The Indigenous Advisory Committee is a statutory body established under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act). The Committee's function is to advise the Minister for the Environment and Heritage on the operation of the EPBC Act, with a focus on the significance of Indigenous peoples' knowledge of the management of land and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
The members of the Committee are appointed on the basis of their expertise in Indigenous land management, conservation and cultural heritage management. They do not represent particular regions or organisations. All 12 members of the Committee are Indigenous people.
The Committee meets at least twice a year in different locations around the country. It deals only with issues which relate to the EPBC Act. Such issues include matters relating to World Heritage properties; National Heritage places; Ramsar wetlands, nationally threatened species and ecological communities; migratory species, Commonwealth marine areas and uranium mining. |
