Enforcement Powers of Indigenous Rangers in the Great Barrier Reef
This factsheet sets out the existing enforcement powers of Indigenous Rangers in the Great Barrier Reef, in comparison to the enforcement powers of other compliance officers and inspectors under Queensland and Commonwealth legislation.
Summary
Key takeaways
If Traditional owners are to be able to fulfil their cultural responsibilities to care for their Sea Country, they require effective mechanisms to enforce compliance on their Countries. Indigenous Rangers are already actively managing Sea Country within the Great Barrier Reef on a daily basis, and would be able to do so more effectively if they held powers to enforce compliance with legislation within the Great Barrier Reef.
Key actions
There may be opportunities for amendments to be made to the relevant Commonwealth and State legislation to extend enforcement powers of compliance officers to Indigenous rangers so that they can actively managing Sea Country more effectively.
