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
D
Davis A (2019). Murray–Darling Basin Royal Commission report finds gross maladministration, The Guardian Australia, Sydney, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jan/31/murray-darling-basin-royal-commission-report-finds-gross-maladministration.
Davis M & Langton M (2016). It’s our country: Indigenous arguments for meaningful constitutional recognition and reform, Melbourne University Publishing, Melbourne.
DAWE (Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) (2005). National Indigenous forestry strategy, DAWE, Canberra.
DAWE (Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) (2020). Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2020 – terrestrial, DAWE, Canberra, https://www.environment.gov.au/fed/catalog/search/resource/details.page?uuid=%7B4448CACD-9DA8-43D1-A48F-48149FD5FCFD%7D.
DAWE (Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) (2021a). Have your say, DAWE, Canberra, https://haveyoursay.awe.gov.au/state-of-environment.
DAWE (Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) (2021b). Closure and rehabilitation of Ranger mine, DAWE, Canberra, https://www.awe.gov.au/science-research/supervising-scientist/ranger-mine/closure-rehabilitation.
DAWE (Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment) (2021c). Stretch reconciliation action plan 2021 to 2024, DAWE, Canberra.
Deadly Science (2021). Who we are & what we do, Deadly Science, https://deadlyscience.org.au/about-us/.
Deadly Story (2021). Totems, Deadly Story, https://www.deadlystory.com/page/culture/Life_Lore/Family/Totems.
DESE (Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment) (2015). Indigenous participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines, DESE, Canberra.
Desert Support Services (2018). Integrated buffel grass management plan for the Great Victoria Desert, Rural Solutions SA, Perth.
Deslandes C, Deslandes S, Broun D, Hugh C, Walsh F, Bradshaw F & Griffith J (2019). Two-way science: an integrated learning program for Aboriginal desert schools, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra.
Dillon M (2019). Policy implications of the Timber Creek decision, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research Working Paper 128/2019, Australian National University, Canberra.
Dillon MC (2021). Codesign in the Indigenous policy domain: risks and opportunities, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, Canberra.
DISER & DFAT (Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources & Australian Goverment Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) (2016). Working with Indigenous communities: Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the mining industry, DISER & DFAT, Canberra.
DITRDC (Australian Government Department of Infrastructure Transport Regional Development and Communications) (2020). National Indigenous languages report, DITRDC, Canberra.
DITRDC (Australian Government Department of Infrastructure Transport Regional Development and Communications) (2021). Indigenous Languages and Arts program, DITRDC, Canberra, https://www.arts.gov.au/funding-and-support/indigenous-languages-and-arts-program.
DITRDC (Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications) (2016). State of Australian cities 2014–2015, DITRDC, Canberra.
Dovers S, Feary S, Martin A, McMillan L, Morgan D & Tollefson M (2015). Engagement and participation in protected area management: who, why, how and when? In: Protected area governance and management, Australian National University, Canberra, 413–440.
Downs J, Adams C, van Bodegraven S, Dickens T, Belle C, Perry J, Bock K, Savenko V, Morris D & Viriya V (2021). Healthy Country AI, GitHub, San Francisco, https://github.com/microsoft/HealthyCountryAI.
DPMC (Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet) (2020). Closing the Gap report, DPMC, Canberra.
DPMC (Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet) (2015). Australian Government public data policy statement, DPMC, Canberra.
Drescher M, Perera AH, Johnson CJ, Buse LJ, Drew CA & Burgman MA (2013). Toward rigorous use of expert knowledge in ecological research. Ecosphere 4(7):1–26.
DSDSATSIP (2020). Treaty Statement of Commitment and response to recommendations of the Eminent Panel, Queensland Department of Seniors Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Brisbane.
DSDSATSIP (2021). Path to Treaty, Queensland Department of Seniors Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Brisbane, https://www.datsip.qld.gov.au/programs-initiatives/tracks-treaty/path-treaty.
Dunstan J (2021). After 160 years, Aboriginal cultural burning returns to Coranderrk Station, ABC News, Canberra, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-21/aboriginal-cultural-burning-at-coranderrk-station-wurundjeri/100082382.
Dutfield G (2015). Traditional knowledge, intellectual property and pharmaceutical innovation: what’s left to discuss? In: David M & Halbert D (eds), The SAGE handbook of intellectual property, SAGE Publications Ltd, 651.