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We recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the sovereign Traditional Owners of Australia and thank them for their stewardship of this Country, its lands, waters and skies. We respectfully acknowledge their culture and customary practices, and pay respect to their Ancestors, Elders and future leaders.

For the first time, the State of the Environment report includes a strong Indigenous narrative across all 12 thematic chapters, a narrative crafted through recognising the leadership, collaboration and authorship of Indigenous Australians who continue their connection as Traditional Owners to their lands, waters and skies.

Click to view the State of the Environment report

 

On 28 March 2025 the government assumed a Caretaker role. Information on websites maintained by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will be published in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions until after the conclusion of the caretaker period.

Due to technical issues, graphs, maps and tables are currently not displaying within the main content, however, are available via the chapter resources navigation bar. We are working on a solution to resolve the issue.

References

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Wagner I (2019). New research calls for national database of Indigenous cultural heritage sites in Australia, Western Sydney University, Sydney, https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/newscentre/news_centre/story_archive/2019/new_research_calls_for_national_database_of_indigenous_cultural_heritage_sites_in_australia.

Wain A (2020). The Molonglo Radio Telescope – a science, heritage and education partnership. In, Australia ICOMOS Science Heritage Symposium: Under the Microscope – Exploring Science Heritage, Hobart, 12 November 2018, Australia ICOMOS, Melbourne, 131–142.

Wakelin-King G & White S (2011). Potential geoheritage values of Australian desert landscapes, report to the Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Wakelin Associates Pty Ltd, Melbourne.

Weir JK, Williamson B & Markham F (2020). Submission to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, Australian Government, Canberra.

Wet Tropics Management Authority (2019). Accept, act, adapt: Climate Adaptation Plan for the Wet Tropics, 2020–2030, Wet Tropics Management Authority, Cairns.

Wettenhall G & Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (2010). The people of Budj Bim: engineers of aquaculture, builders of stone house settlements and warriors defending country, em PRESS Publishing, Melbourne.

WHITRAP, City of Ballarat, Tongji University & Federation University Australia (2016). The HUL guidebook: managing heritage in dynamic and constantly changing urban environments. A practical guide to UNESCO’s recommendation on the historic urban landscape, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Paris.

Wildlife Heritage & Marine Division (2017). National Heritage place monitoring, initial survey report, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra.

Willett G, Bailey A, Jones TW & Rood S (2021). A history of LGBTIQ+ Victoria in 100 places and objects, Heritage Victoria, Melbourne.

Williamson B, Markham F & Weir JK (2020). Aboriginal peoples and the response to the 2019–2020 bushfires, Working Paper No. 134/2020, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, Canberra.

Wishart E (2020). Ensuring Antarctic science heritage collections are here for the future. In: McConnell A (ed), Australia ICOMOS Science Heritage Symposium: Under the Microscope – Exploring Science Heritage, Hobart, 12 November 2018, Australia ICOMOS, Melbourne, 98–111.

Woodward E, Hill R, Harkness P & Archer R (2020). Our Knowledge Our Way in caring for Country: Indigenous-led approaches to strengthening and sharing our knowledge for land and sea management. Best practice guidelines from Australian experiences, 1486314082, North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance & CSIRO, Cairns.

Worboys GL, Lockwood M, Kothari A, Feary S & Pulsford I (2015). Protected area governance and management, ANU Press, Canberra.

Wyatt K (2020). 2020–21 Budget: far-reaching benefits for Indigenous Australians, National Indigenous Australians Agency, Canberra, https://www.indigenous.gov.au/news-and-media/announcements/2020-21-budget-far-reaching-benefits-indigenous-australians.