‘Aqua nullius was a myth too': Yoorrook puts claim on share of water billions
The Yoorrook Justice Commission published its final reports on Tuesday, proposing a rethink of the state's multibillion-dollar water system and arguing First Peoples are too far removed from a resource that is fundamental to their culture.
While Indigenous land rights have loomed in the public consciousness since the 1992 Mabo decision, water is described by Yoorrook as the lifeblood of Country.
'That sovereignty was never ceded means that 'all water is Aboriginal water' and the Crown should not have 'sole authority' in managing water,' the commission wrote. 'Yoorrook calls for First Peoples' fundamental and inherent rights to water to be recognised.'
The commission found that minimal water ownership had been returned to First Peoples, and where the state had promised to do so, the volumes transferred had been negligible and not provided fast enough.
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It was found Victoria had not shared with traditional owners any of the $83 billion in water-related revenue that the state reaped between 2010 and 2023, across its corporations and entities.
'Although the state has set up ad hoc arrangements to fund First Peoples water programs, the state does not share the substantial wealth that it has obtained from the market-based water system,' the commission found.
'Traditional owners continue to be locked out of the economic benefits of Victoria's water allocation framework.'
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The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'She spoke up, she spoke out': Sinead Francis-Coan remembered as tireless advocate for family and city
Sinead Francis-Coan, the late Greens councillor of Newcastle, has been remembered as a fierce advocate, a tireless campaigner of countless causes close to her heart, and an indefatigable force in both her family and her city. The freshman Ward 3 councillor, who served only eight months in office, died suddenly of a ruptured aortic aneurysm on Monday, June 23. She was 40. At a memorial service at City Hall on Saturday, July 12, attended by Ms Francis-Coan's surviving family, colleagues at the City of Newcastle, and various community and activist organisations she touched, mourners heard of her industrious spirit and commitment to the public good. "She spoke out against injustice, against violence, against racism, against discrimination of all kinds," her mother, Lyndall Coan, said. "She spoke out about workers' rights, women's rights, Indigenous rights, refugee rights, LGBTQI rights. And she did love that megaphone." "I have been extremely proud of the work she was doing as a councillor, and I had the opportunity to tell her that just three days before she died." In emotionally poignant eulogies, Ms Francis-Coan's sisters, Roisin and Ciara, spoke of their sister's love for her nieces and nephews, her commitment to family, and her relentlessly active spirit. "When I asked how she was doing, she would usually list everything she had done that week," Ciara said. "I understand now how much time, love and energy she gave to causes and to people. I think I finally get it - why listing her busy schedule was her way of answering how she was. I think she felt good about being so active." "I'm devastated to lose her, but comforted to know that she has been recognised and respected for the amazing person she was." Ms Francis-Coan was elected to the city council on the Greens party ticket in October. She had previously run for office in 2021, missing out by a mere 80 votes. She worked as an organiser for the National Tertiary Education Union at the University of Newcastle. She was a staunch unionist, progressive campaigner, environmentalist and an advocate for issues of equality, diversity and fairness. She was arrested in November, last year, after participating in the blockade of the Newcastle harbour, orchestrated by the protest group Rising Tide. When NSW Greens upper house member Cate Faehrmann mentioned her activism during her eulogy, a resounding cheer rang through City Hall, led by a sea of blue Rising Tide shirts filling the right wing of the floor. "We would be hard pressed to find anybody else who showed up so consistently on such a broad range of issues," Ms Faehrmann said. "She always had a smile to share and was warm and friendly to everyone she encountered. She was an extraordinary person and her loss will be sorely felt in the Newcastle community." Hunter Workers' women's committee president Teresa Hetherington described Ms Francis-Coan as a 'shining light' who "left an indelible impact on the workers of the Hunter." "Even when you first met her, you instantly felt close to her. If she wasn't already, she would soon be your friend." City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath described a councillor of seemingly limitless potential, and an advocate who thrived on a commitment to civic duty. "Between October and June, Sinead led council debates on the local environment; Lambton Park; shark nets; the privatisation of Newcastle's public transport system; the loss of state government funding for the Active Stronger, Better program; the need for a special entertainment precinct here in the city; the need for a dedicated-use space in Hamilton; better or improved maintenance of our inland swimming pools; and the preservation of green space in New Lambton," he said. "She was busy." "While the subject matters were many and varied, there was one consistency in how she spoke to each of these issues. Her approach was always respectful, her position was always evidence based and most importantly, her words were always delivered with kindness, passion and enthusiasm." "At the end of one particularly long council meeting last year, I walked up to Sinead because she was the only one who had two eyes still open and I said, what is your secret?" "She laughed, and replied that she just loved being a councillor. In eight years, I have never heard anyone say that." Ms Francis-Coan's family spoke of their love for their daughter, sister and aunt. Mrs Coan, who like many other speakers, regretted that she felt she could not wrap such a life into so many words, said her daughter's voice was as powerful as her pen. "Many of you have said you have no words and I too am struggling, but Sinead had words," she said. "She spoke up and she spoke out." "If she disagreed with you, she said so. She was a talker, and also a good listener." "We must have words for Sinead." Ms Francis-Coan was born on August 20, 1984. Her childhood was marked by health struggles, including undergoing heart surgery at four years old to repair a narrow aorta. She was also diagnosed at three weeks old with Turner Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects women and girls, characterised by the absence or partial absence of one X chromosome. "That is why she was so short," Mrs Coan said lovingly. "She also had a spatial reasoning learning difficulty. This enabled her to see the world from different angles, but not always the ones expected of her." "Sinead faced many challenges, but she rose to them and they shaped the amazing person you all knew and loved." Ms Francis-Coan and her family moved to Newcastle when she was six months old. She attended Jesmond's Heaton Public School and the Hunter School of Performing Arts in Broadmeadow. In 2019, she ran for the seat of Wallsend, where she received 9.3 per cent of the vote against the front-running challenger Sonia Hornery. Her sister, Roisin, described her as a leader even in childhood; a "serious" child who was always "hanging out with the adults". "Our parents raised headstrong women, each walking their own path," she said. "And she was certainly walking hers." "I'm glad she put her argumentative skills to good use, fighting passionately for the things she believed in." Her close friend, Mairtin Mag Uidhir, closed the ceremony with a blessing in Irish Gaelic, describing the culture's understanding of death as going on the "way of truth". "They go ar sli an fhirinne - on the way of truth," he said. "For an incredible woman like Sinead, she was always searching for that truth long before she left us." "May you find tranquility, peace and calm on this next journey. May we sing again at the top of our voices together on the other side of eternity." The Newcastle People's Chorus closed the ceremony with a rendition of the unionist anthem Solidarity Forever, as the amassed crowd stood and many raised their fists in memory. Ms Francis-Coan's seat on the city's council, being left vacant fewer than 18 months since the September 2024 election, will be filled by a count-back to elect a new councillor. Long-term Newcastle Greens members Siobhan Isherwood and Anne Rooke-Frizell stood No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, under Ms Francis-Coan on the Greens' ticket for ward three. Sinead Francis-Coan, the late Greens councillor of Newcastle, has been remembered as a fierce advocate, a tireless campaigner of countless causes close to her heart, and an indefatigable force in both her family and her city. The freshman Ward 3 councillor, who served only eight months in office, died suddenly of a ruptured aortic aneurysm on Monday, June 23. She was 40. At a memorial service at City Hall on Saturday, July 12, attended by Ms Francis-Coan's surviving family, colleagues at the City of Newcastle, and various community and activist organisations she touched, mourners heard of her industrious spirit and commitment to the public good. "She spoke out against injustice, against violence, against racism, against discrimination of all kinds," her mother, Lyndall Coan, said. "She spoke out about workers' rights, women's rights, Indigenous rights, refugee rights, LGBTQI rights. And she did love that megaphone." "I have been extremely proud of the work she was doing as a councillor, and I had the opportunity to tell her that just three days before she died." In emotionally poignant eulogies, Ms Francis-Coan's sisters, Roisin and Ciara, spoke of their sister's love for her nieces and nephews, her commitment to family, and her relentlessly active spirit. "When I asked how she was doing, she would usually list everything she had done that week," Ciara said. "I understand now how much time, love and energy she gave to causes and to people. I think I finally get it - why listing her busy schedule was her way of answering how she was. I think she felt good about being so active." "I'm devastated to lose her, but comforted to know that she has been recognised and respected for the amazing person she was." Ms Francis-Coan was elected to the city council on the Greens party ticket in October. She had previously run for office in 2021, missing out by a mere 80 votes. She worked as an organiser for the National Tertiary Education Union at the University of Newcastle. She was a staunch unionist, progressive campaigner, environmentalist and an advocate for issues of equality, diversity and fairness. She was arrested in November, last year, after participating in the blockade of the Newcastle harbour, orchestrated by the protest group Rising Tide. When NSW Greens upper house member Cate Faehrmann mentioned her activism during her eulogy, a resounding cheer rang through City Hall, led by a sea of blue Rising Tide shirts filling the right wing of the floor. "We would be hard pressed to find anybody else who showed up so consistently on such a broad range of issues," Ms Faehrmann said. "She always had a smile to share and was warm and friendly to everyone she encountered. She was an extraordinary person and her loss will be sorely felt in the Newcastle community." Hunter Workers' women's committee president Teresa Hetherington described Ms Francis-Coan as a 'shining light' who "left an indelible impact on the workers of the Hunter." "Even when you first met her, you instantly felt close to her. If she wasn't already, she would soon be your friend." City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath described a councillor of seemingly limitless potential, and an advocate who thrived on a commitment to civic duty. "Between October and June, Sinead led council debates on the local environment; Lambton Park; shark nets; the privatisation of Newcastle's public transport system; the loss of state government funding for the Active Stronger, Better program; the need for a special entertainment precinct here in the city; the need for a dedicated-use space in Hamilton; better or improved maintenance of our inland swimming pools; and the preservation of green space in New Lambton," he said. "She was busy." "While the subject matters were many and varied, there was one consistency in how she spoke to each of these issues. Her approach was always respectful, her position was always evidence based and most importantly, her words were always delivered with kindness, passion and enthusiasm." "At the end of one particularly long council meeting last year, I walked up to Sinead because she was the only one who had two eyes still open and I said, what is your secret?" "She laughed, and replied that she just loved being a councillor. In eight years, I have never heard anyone say that." Ms Francis-Coan's family spoke of their love for their daughter, sister and aunt. Mrs Coan, who like many other speakers, regretted that she felt she could not wrap such a life into so many words, said her daughter's voice was as powerful as her pen. "Many of you have said you have no words and I too am struggling, but Sinead had words," she said. "She spoke up and she spoke out." "If she disagreed with you, she said so. She was a talker, and also a good listener." "We must have words for Sinead." Ms Francis-Coan was born on August 20, 1984. Her childhood was marked by health struggles, including undergoing heart surgery at four years old to repair a narrow aorta. She was also diagnosed at three weeks old with Turner Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects women and girls, characterised by the absence or partial absence of one X chromosome. "That is why she was so short," Mrs Coan said lovingly. "She also had a spatial reasoning learning difficulty. This enabled her to see the world from different angles, but not always the ones expected of her." "Sinead faced many challenges, but she rose to them and they shaped the amazing person you all knew and loved." Ms Francis-Coan and her family moved to Newcastle when she was six months old. She attended Jesmond's Heaton Public School and the Hunter School of Performing Arts in Broadmeadow. In 2019, she ran for the seat of Wallsend, where she received 9.3 per cent of the vote against the front-running challenger Sonia Hornery. Her sister, Roisin, described her as a leader even in childhood; a "serious" child who was always "hanging out with the adults". "Our parents raised headstrong women, each walking their own path," she said. "And she was certainly walking hers." "I'm glad she put her argumentative skills to good use, fighting passionately for the things she believed in." Her close friend, Mairtin Mag Uidhir, closed the ceremony with a blessing in Irish Gaelic, describing the culture's understanding of death as going on the "way of truth". "They go ar sli an fhirinne - on the way of truth," he said. "For an incredible woman like Sinead, she was always searching for that truth long before she left us." "May you find tranquility, peace and calm on this next journey. May we sing again at the top of our voices together on the other side of eternity." The Newcastle People's Chorus closed the ceremony with a rendition of the unionist anthem Solidarity Forever, as the amassed crowd stood and many raised their fists in memory. Ms Francis-Coan's seat on the city's council, being left vacant fewer than 18 months since the September 2024 election, will be filled by a count-back to elect a new councillor. Long-term Newcastle Greens members Siobhan Isherwood and Anne Rooke-Frizell stood No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, under Ms Francis-Coan on the Greens' ticket for ward three. Sinead Francis-Coan, the late Greens councillor of Newcastle, has been remembered as a fierce advocate, a tireless campaigner of countless causes close to her heart, and an indefatigable force in both her family and her city. The freshman Ward 3 councillor, who served only eight months in office, died suddenly of a ruptured aortic aneurysm on Monday, June 23. She was 40. At a memorial service at City Hall on Saturday, July 12, attended by Ms Francis-Coan's surviving family, colleagues at the City of Newcastle, and various community and activist organisations she touched, mourners heard of her industrious spirit and commitment to the public good. "She spoke out against injustice, against violence, against racism, against discrimination of all kinds," her mother, Lyndall Coan, said. "She spoke out about workers' rights, women's rights, Indigenous rights, refugee rights, LGBTQI rights. And she did love that megaphone." "I have been extremely proud of the work she was doing as a councillor, and I had the opportunity to tell her that just three days before she died." In emotionally poignant eulogies, Ms Francis-Coan's sisters, Roisin and Ciara, spoke of their sister's love for her nieces and nephews, her commitment to family, and her relentlessly active spirit. "When I asked how she was doing, she would usually list everything she had done that week," Ciara said. "I understand now how much time, love and energy she gave to causes and to people. I think I finally get it - why listing her busy schedule was her way of answering how she was. I think she felt good about being so active." "I'm devastated to lose her, but comforted to know that she has been recognised and respected for the amazing person she was." Ms Francis-Coan was elected to the city council on the Greens party ticket in October. She had previously run for office in 2021, missing out by a mere 80 votes. She worked as an organiser for the National Tertiary Education Union at the University of Newcastle. She was a staunch unionist, progressive campaigner, environmentalist and an advocate for issues of equality, diversity and fairness. She was arrested in November, last year, after participating in the blockade of the Newcastle harbour, orchestrated by the protest group Rising Tide. When NSW Greens upper house member Cate Faehrmann mentioned her activism during her eulogy, a resounding cheer rang through City Hall, led by a sea of blue Rising Tide shirts filling the right wing of the floor. "We would be hard pressed to find anybody else who showed up so consistently on such a broad range of issues," Ms Faehrmann said. "She always had a smile to share and was warm and friendly to everyone she encountered. She was an extraordinary person and her loss will be sorely felt in the Newcastle community." Hunter Workers' women's committee president Teresa Hetherington described Ms Francis-Coan as a 'shining light' who "left an indelible impact on the workers of the Hunter." "Even when you first met her, you instantly felt close to her. If she wasn't already, she would soon be your friend." City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath described a councillor of seemingly limitless potential, and an advocate who thrived on a commitment to civic duty. "Between October and June, Sinead led council debates on the local environment; Lambton Park; shark nets; the privatisation of Newcastle's public transport system; the loss of state government funding for the Active Stronger, Better program; the need for a special entertainment precinct here in the city; the need for a dedicated-use space in Hamilton; better or improved maintenance of our inland swimming pools; and the preservation of green space in New Lambton," he said. "She was busy." "While the subject matters were many and varied, there was one consistency in how she spoke to each of these issues. Her approach was always respectful, her position was always evidence based and most importantly, her words were always delivered with kindness, passion and enthusiasm." "At the end of one particularly long council meeting last year, I walked up to Sinead because she was the only one who had two eyes still open and I said, what is your secret?" "She laughed, and replied that she just loved being a councillor. In eight years, I have never heard anyone say that." Ms Francis-Coan's family spoke of their love for their daughter, sister and aunt. Mrs Coan, who like many other speakers, regretted that she felt she could not wrap such a life into so many words, said her daughter's voice was as powerful as her pen. "Many of you have said you have no words and I too am struggling, but Sinead had words," she said. "She spoke up and she spoke out." "If she disagreed with you, she said so. She was a talker, and also a good listener." "We must have words for Sinead." Ms Francis-Coan was born on August 20, 1984. Her childhood was marked by health struggles, including undergoing heart surgery at four years old to repair a narrow aorta. She was also diagnosed at three weeks old with Turner Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects women and girls, characterised by the absence or partial absence of one X chromosome. "That is why she was so short," Mrs Coan said lovingly. "She also had a spatial reasoning learning difficulty. This enabled her to see the world from different angles, but not always the ones expected of her." "Sinead faced many challenges, but she rose to them and they shaped the amazing person you all knew and loved." Ms Francis-Coan and her family moved to Newcastle when she was six months old. She attended Jesmond's Heaton Public School and the Hunter School of Performing Arts in Broadmeadow. In 2019, she ran for the seat of Wallsend, where she received 9.3 per cent of the vote against the front-running challenger Sonia Hornery. Her sister, Roisin, described her as a leader even in childhood; a "serious" child who was always "hanging out with the adults". "Our parents raised headstrong women, each walking their own path," she said. "And she was certainly walking hers." "I'm glad she put her argumentative skills to good use, fighting passionately for the things she believed in." Her close friend, Mairtin Mag Uidhir, closed the ceremony with a blessing in Irish Gaelic, describing the culture's understanding of death as going on the "way of truth". "They go ar sli an fhirinne - on the way of truth," he said. "For an incredible woman like Sinead, she was always searching for that truth long before she left us." "May you find tranquility, peace and calm on this next journey. May we sing again at the top of our voices together on the other side of eternity." The Newcastle People's Chorus closed the ceremony with a rendition of the unionist anthem Solidarity Forever, as the amassed crowd stood and many raised their fists in memory. Ms Francis-Coan's seat on the city's council, being left vacant fewer than 18 months since the September 2024 election, will be filled by a count-back to elect a new councillor. Long-term Newcastle Greens members Siobhan Isherwood and Anne Rooke-Frizell stood No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, under Ms Francis-Coan on the Greens' ticket for ward three. Sinead Francis-Coan, the late Greens councillor of Newcastle, has been remembered as a fierce advocate, a tireless campaigner of countless causes close to her heart, and an indefatigable force in both her family and her city. The freshman Ward 3 councillor, who served only eight months in office, died suddenly of a ruptured aortic aneurysm on Monday, June 23. She was 40. At a memorial service at City Hall on Saturday, July 12, attended by Ms Francis-Coan's surviving family, colleagues at the City of Newcastle, and various community and activist organisations she touched, mourners heard of her industrious spirit and commitment to the public good. "She spoke out against injustice, against violence, against racism, against discrimination of all kinds," her mother, Lyndall Coan, said. "She spoke out about workers' rights, women's rights, Indigenous rights, refugee rights, LGBTQI rights. And she did love that megaphone." "I have been extremely proud of the work she was doing as a councillor, and I had the opportunity to tell her that just three days before she died." In emotionally poignant eulogies, Ms Francis-Coan's sisters, Roisin and Ciara, spoke of their sister's love for her nieces and nephews, her commitment to family, and her relentlessly active spirit. "When I asked how she was doing, she would usually list everything she had done that week," Ciara said. "I understand now how much time, love and energy she gave to causes and to people. I think I finally get it - why listing her busy schedule was her way of answering how she was. I think she felt good about being so active." "I'm devastated to lose her, but comforted to know that she has been recognised and respected for the amazing person she was." Ms Francis-Coan was elected to the city council on the Greens party ticket in October. She had previously run for office in 2021, missing out by a mere 80 votes. She worked as an organiser for the National Tertiary Education Union at the University of Newcastle. She was a staunch unionist, progressive campaigner, environmentalist and an advocate for issues of equality, diversity and fairness. She was arrested in November, last year, after participating in the blockade of the Newcastle harbour, orchestrated by the protest group Rising Tide. When NSW Greens upper house member Cate Faehrmann mentioned her activism during her eulogy, a resounding cheer rang through City Hall, led by a sea of blue Rising Tide shirts filling the right wing of the floor. "We would be hard pressed to find anybody else who showed up so consistently on such a broad range of issues," Ms Faehrmann said. "She always had a smile to share and was warm and friendly to everyone she encountered. She was an extraordinary person and her loss will be sorely felt in the Newcastle community." Hunter Workers' women's committee president Teresa Hetherington described Ms Francis-Coan as a 'shining light' who "left an indelible impact on the workers of the Hunter." "Even when you first met her, you instantly felt close to her. If she wasn't already, she would soon be your friend." City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath described a councillor of seemingly limitless potential, and an advocate who thrived on a commitment to civic duty. "Between October and June, Sinead led council debates on the local environment; Lambton Park; shark nets; the privatisation of Newcastle's public transport system; the loss of state government funding for the Active Stronger, Better program; the need for a special entertainment precinct here in the city; the need for a dedicated-use space in Hamilton; better or improved maintenance of our inland swimming pools; and the preservation of green space in New Lambton," he said. "She was busy." "While the subject matters were many and varied, there was one consistency in how she spoke to each of these issues. Her approach was always respectful, her position was always evidence based and most importantly, her words were always delivered with kindness, passion and enthusiasm." "At the end of one particularly long council meeting last year, I walked up to Sinead because she was the only one who had two eyes still open and I said, what is your secret?" "She laughed, and replied that she just loved being a councillor. In eight years, I have never heard anyone say that." Ms Francis-Coan's family spoke of their love for their daughter, sister and aunt. Mrs Coan, who like many other speakers, regretted that she felt she could not wrap such a life into so many words, said her daughter's voice was as powerful as her pen. "Many of you have said you have no words and I too am struggling, but Sinead had words," she said. "She spoke up and she spoke out." "If she disagreed with you, she said so. She was a talker, and also a good listener." "We must have words for Sinead." Ms Francis-Coan was born on August 20, 1984. Her childhood was marked by health struggles, including undergoing heart surgery at four years old to repair a narrow aorta. She was also diagnosed at three weeks old with Turner Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects women and girls, characterised by the absence or partial absence of one X chromosome. "That is why she was so short," Mrs Coan said lovingly. "She also had a spatial reasoning learning difficulty. This enabled her to see the world from different angles, but not always the ones expected of her." "Sinead faced many challenges, but she rose to them and they shaped the amazing person you all knew and loved." Ms Francis-Coan and her family moved to Newcastle when she was six months old. She attended Jesmond's Heaton Public School and the Hunter School of Performing Arts in Broadmeadow. In 2019, she ran for the seat of Wallsend, where she received 9.3 per cent of the vote against the front-running challenger Sonia Hornery. Her sister, Roisin, described her as a leader even in childhood; a "serious" child who was always "hanging out with the adults". "Our parents raised headstrong women, each walking their own path," she said. "And she was certainly walking hers." "I'm glad she put her argumentative skills to good use, fighting passionately for the things she believed in." Her close friend, Mairtin Mag Uidhir, closed the ceremony with a blessing in Irish Gaelic, describing the culture's understanding of death as going on the "way of truth". "They go ar sli an fhirinne - on the way of truth," he said. "For an incredible woman like Sinead, she was always searching for that truth long before she left us." "May you find tranquility, peace and calm on this next journey. May we sing again at the top of our voices together on the other side of eternity." The Newcastle People's Chorus closed the ceremony with a rendition of the unionist anthem Solidarity Forever, as the amassed crowd stood and many raised their fists in memory. Ms Francis-Coan's seat on the city's council, being left vacant fewer than 18 months since the September 2024 election, will be filled by a count-back to elect a new councillor. Long-term Newcastle Greens members Siobhan Isherwood and Anne Rooke-Frizell stood No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, under Ms Francis-Coan on the Greens' ticket for ward three.
SBS Australia
9 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Product makers taking home the chocolates in Indigenous business boom
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . "I'm going to have the world saying Jala Jala. But my dream is to have my own store that is inclusive of tourism, as well as manufacturing, that I can showcase on a grand scale to honour myself, chocolate, my culture, and have it as an inclusive place to come and be and experience." That's entrepreneur Sharon Brindley, founder of Jala Jala Treats, Victoria's largest Indigenous female-owned food manufacturing company. The Yamatji and Noongar woman is now beginning the process of exporting her range of native-ingredient chocolates and teas to Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. "It's stressful, it's hard, but it;s probably the most worthwhile thing I've ever done. It's given me a sense of self pride, it's filled my cup, it's grown my community to a global point." Her export dreams are being assisted by Asialink, the national centre for engagement with Asia based at the University of Melbourne, whose chief executive says businesses like Ms Brindley's resonate with markets in the region like never before. Mr Howard says there is a real demand for Indigenous products overseas. "Australian businesses, exporters, need to be really thinking about what's going to differentiate them in the market. That's why I think First Nations exporters and a lot of products they offer have a real edge and they should lean into that, but also think about where they can match that with the type of consumer segment that they are targeting." Data from Austrade shows Indigenous goods exporters generated more than $670 million in turnover in 2022/23. Now a new report from Supply Nation - a non-profit that provides Australia's biggest database of Indigenous businesses - has found that Indigenous businesses create more than 42 billion dollars of social value each year. Supply Nation CEO and Awabakal woman Kate Russell says the benefits are wide reaching - impacting business owners, their employees and communities. "The way we are defining social value is through an Indigenous lens of wellbeing. But this can include mental health, physical health, education, housing, as well as a sense of pride and aspiration for our Indigenous business, their households, and their Indigenous employees." She says every dollar of revenue equates to three dollars and sixty-six cents of social and economic value. "Importantly those entrepreneurs are generating that value purely by there shouldn't be an expectation on Indigenous businesses to go above and beyond, and provide programs that we would not expect the average small to medium enterprise to provide." Ms Brindley can attest to that. She says she created her chocolate company as a way to share language through food. "The demand is really growing for the need for our stories that are attached to the foods. I'm not just a chocolate maker, I'm more than that, I'm more than chocolate." Indigenous businesses are also having an economic impact at home in Australia. The federal government's own Indigenous procurement target has been increased to 3 percent for this financial year, with the aim to reach 4 percent by the end of the decade. A recent Commonwealth audit found two-thirds of contracts had been exempt by government departments since 2016, and often without any justification. The government has said the National Indigenous Australians Agency is working to develop stronger processes. Looking beyond the challenges, business owners like Ms Brindley have their eyes on the future. "Don't ever stop looking at your dream, because although I didn't know and I don't know how I'm going to get to that next stage... Always follow your passion, no matter where you start, you never know where you are going to end up."
The Advertiser
16 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Hello Yellow: the humble crop spinning tourism gold
Two couples are flying more than 13,000km to rural Australia to have their wedding photos taken in a golden paddock nestled between a country road and a babbling creek. Families visiting from India and Pakistan have made the trip to Cornella, a tiny township east of Bendigo in Victoria, to wander through the same field. Others have travelled from Sydney or Melbourne for the chance to run their hands through blossoms and put their feet in the dirt. Such is the allure of canola, the green and yellow winter crop getting a new life as a tourist attraction across the country. Victorian winemaker Brian Spencer saw an opportunity to turn canola into gold when he noticed other farmers asking tourists to stay out of their picturesque paddocks due to damage and biosecurity concerns. Mr Spencer opened the Cornella Canola Walk near his cellar door at Shiraz Republic vineyard, creating pathways through a crop so visitors can amble among the yellow flowers, take photos and connect with the land. Approaching the fourth season of the walk, which will operate from late August, Mr Spencer has seen visitor numbers blossom from 700 to 5000 during the six-week flowering period. International tourists, couples hoping to take romantic photos and city families are among his visitors. "It's a very immersive experience, that sense of awe and wonder that people get from being in the midst of it," Mr Spencer told AAP. "Connection with something real is good for the soul; it makes you slow down, reconnect with the ground and the earth. "It's a gift that the country can give to the city." While Australia's canola production amounts to more than $4 billion, the CSIRO estimates agritourism could be worth $18.6 billion annually by 2030. Producers are increasingly embracing attractions like farm stays, roadside stalls, tours and meet-the-producer events to diversify and secure incomes. A national agritourism summit in Orange, in central western NSW, in August will hear from renowned chef Matt Moran about his gastronomic ventures in the bush and feature tours through orchards and wineries. Looking to agriculture was the answer for councils hoping boost tourism in the Riverina, NSW's largest canola-growing region. Temora, Junee and Coolamon shires joined forces to create a canola trail linking the three heritage towns, also featuring hot air balloon rides over the vast yellow plains. Their venture is called Hello Yellow, inviting people on "a journey of joy" on the canola trail. Urban visitors are increasingly expressing interest in knowing where their food comes from, Temora council's Craig Sinclair said. "There's an idyllic, romanticised idea that we have with the countryside and the benefits of country living and being surrounded by nature," he told AAP. "It's that closer proximity to where your food is being produced because ... everything else in society, and in life, is pulling us further and further away from that." Those who have tiptoed through canola in Cornella share the same sentiments. Mr Spencer hopes greater exposure to rural life helps bridge the city-country divide. "Understanding the challenges, the care and the stewardship that's involved in agriculture ... builds some trust and respect that's good for our industries," he said. "If people have a glass of wine or a chat with the people that made it, or talk to the farmer, that changes things. "It builds a connection with the country." Two couples are flying more than 13,000km to rural Australia to have their wedding photos taken in a golden paddock nestled between a country road and a babbling creek. Families visiting from India and Pakistan have made the trip to Cornella, a tiny township east of Bendigo in Victoria, to wander through the same field. Others have travelled from Sydney or Melbourne for the chance to run their hands through blossoms and put their feet in the dirt. Such is the allure of canola, the green and yellow winter crop getting a new life as a tourist attraction across the country. Victorian winemaker Brian Spencer saw an opportunity to turn canola into gold when he noticed other farmers asking tourists to stay out of their picturesque paddocks due to damage and biosecurity concerns. Mr Spencer opened the Cornella Canola Walk near his cellar door at Shiraz Republic vineyard, creating pathways through a crop so visitors can amble among the yellow flowers, take photos and connect with the land. Approaching the fourth season of the walk, which will operate from late August, Mr Spencer has seen visitor numbers blossom from 700 to 5000 during the six-week flowering period. International tourists, couples hoping to take romantic photos and city families are among his visitors. "It's a very immersive experience, that sense of awe and wonder that people get from being in the midst of it," Mr Spencer told AAP. "Connection with something real is good for the soul; it makes you slow down, reconnect with the ground and the earth. "It's a gift that the country can give to the city." While Australia's canola production amounts to more than $4 billion, the CSIRO estimates agritourism could be worth $18.6 billion annually by 2030. Producers are increasingly embracing attractions like farm stays, roadside stalls, tours and meet-the-producer events to diversify and secure incomes. A national agritourism summit in Orange, in central western NSW, in August will hear from renowned chef Matt Moran about his gastronomic ventures in the bush and feature tours through orchards and wineries. Looking to agriculture was the answer for councils hoping boost tourism in the Riverina, NSW's largest canola-growing region. Temora, Junee and Coolamon shires joined forces to create a canola trail linking the three heritage towns, also featuring hot air balloon rides over the vast yellow plains. Their venture is called Hello Yellow, inviting people on "a journey of joy" on the canola trail. Urban visitors are increasingly expressing interest in knowing where their food comes from, Temora council's Craig Sinclair said. "There's an idyllic, romanticised idea that we have with the countryside and the benefits of country living and being surrounded by nature," he told AAP. "It's that closer proximity to where your food is being produced because ... everything else in society, and in life, is pulling us further and further away from that." Those who have tiptoed through canola in Cornella share the same sentiments. Mr Spencer hopes greater exposure to rural life helps bridge the city-country divide. "Understanding the challenges, the care and the stewardship that's involved in agriculture ... builds some trust and respect that's good for our industries," he said. "If people have a glass of wine or a chat with the people that made it, or talk to the farmer, that changes things. "It builds a connection with the country." Two couples are flying more than 13,000km to rural Australia to have their wedding photos taken in a golden paddock nestled between a country road and a babbling creek. Families visiting from India and Pakistan have made the trip to Cornella, a tiny township east of Bendigo in Victoria, to wander through the same field. Others have travelled from Sydney or Melbourne for the chance to run their hands through blossoms and put their feet in the dirt. Such is the allure of canola, the green and yellow winter crop getting a new life as a tourist attraction across the country. Victorian winemaker Brian Spencer saw an opportunity to turn canola into gold when he noticed other farmers asking tourists to stay out of their picturesque paddocks due to damage and biosecurity concerns. Mr Spencer opened the Cornella Canola Walk near his cellar door at Shiraz Republic vineyard, creating pathways through a crop so visitors can amble among the yellow flowers, take photos and connect with the land. Approaching the fourth season of the walk, which will operate from late August, Mr Spencer has seen visitor numbers blossom from 700 to 5000 during the six-week flowering period. International tourists, couples hoping to take romantic photos and city families are among his visitors. "It's a very immersive experience, that sense of awe and wonder that people get from being in the midst of it," Mr Spencer told AAP. "Connection with something real is good for the soul; it makes you slow down, reconnect with the ground and the earth. "It's a gift that the country can give to the city." While Australia's canola production amounts to more than $4 billion, the CSIRO estimates agritourism could be worth $18.6 billion annually by 2030. Producers are increasingly embracing attractions like farm stays, roadside stalls, tours and meet-the-producer events to diversify and secure incomes. A national agritourism summit in Orange, in central western NSW, in August will hear from renowned chef Matt Moran about his gastronomic ventures in the bush and feature tours through orchards and wineries. Looking to agriculture was the answer for councils hoping boost tourism in the Riverina, NSW's largest canola-growing region. Temora, Junee and Coolamon shires joined forces to create a canola trail linking the three heritage towns, also featuring hot air balloon rides over the vast yellow plains. Their venture is called Hello Yellow, inviting people on "a journey of joy" on the canola trail. Urban visitors are increasingly expressing interest in knowing where their food comes from, Temora council's Craig Sinclair said. "There's an idyllic, romanticised idea that we have with the countryside and the benefits of country living and being surrounded by nature," he told AAP. "It's that closer proximity to where your food is being produced because ... everything else in society, and in life, is pulling us further and further away from that." Those who have tiptoed through canola in Cornella share the same sentiments. Mr Spencer hopes greater exposure to rural life helps bridge the city-country divide. "Understanding the challenges, the care and the stewardship that's involved in agriculture ... builds some trust and respect that's good for our industries," he said. "If people have a glass of wine or a chat with the people that made it, or talk to the farmer, that changes things. "It builds a connection with the country." Two couples are flying more than 13,000km to rural Australia to have their wedding photos taken in a golden paddock nestled between a country road and a babbling creek. Families visiting from India and Pakistan have made the trip to Cornella, a tiny township east of Bendigo in Victoria, to wander through the same field. Others have travelled from Sydney or Melbourne for the chance to run their hands through blossoms and put their feet in the dirt. Such is the allure of canola, the green and yellow winter crop getting a new life as a tourist attraction across the country. Victorian winemaker Brian Spencer saw an opportunity to turn canola into gold when he noticed other farmers asking tourists to stay out of their picturesque paddocks due to damage and biosecurity concerns. Mr Spencer opened the Cornella Canola Walk near his cellar door at Shiraz Republic vineyard, creating pathways through a crop so visitors can amble among the yellow flowers, take photos and connect with the land. Approaching the fourth season of the walk, which will operate from late August, Mr Spencer has seen visitor numbers blossom from 700 to 5000 during the six-week flowering period. International tourists, couples hoping to take romantic photos and city families are among his visitors. "It's a very immersive experience, that sense of awe and wonder that people get from being in the midst of it," Mr Spencer told AAP. "Connection with something real is good for the soul; it makes you slow down, reconnect with the ground and the earth. "It's a gift that the country can give to the city." While Australia's canola production amounts to more than $4 billion, the CSIRO estimates agritourism could be worth $18.6 billion annually by 2030. Producers are increasingly embracing attractions like farm stays, roadside stalls, tours and meet-the-producer events to diversify and secure incomes. A national agritourism summit in Orange, in central western NSW, in August will hear from renowned chef Matt Moran about his gastronomic ventures in the bush and feature tours through orchards and wineries. Looking to agriculture was the answer for councils hoping boost tourism in the Riverina, NSW's largest canola-growing region. Temora, Junee and Coolamon shires joined forces to create a canola trail linking the three heritage towns, also featuring hot air balloon rides over the vast yellow plains. Their venture is called Hello Yellow, inviting people on "a journey of joy" on the canola trail. Urban visitors are increasingly expressing interest in knowing where their food comes from, Temora council's Craig Sinclair said. "There's an idyllic, romanticised idea that we have with the countryside and the benefits of country living and being surrounded by nature," he told AAP. "It's that closer proximity to where your food is being produced because ... everything else in society, and in life, is pulling us further and further away from that." Those who have tiptoed through canola in Cornella share the same sentiments. Mr Spencer hopes greater exposure to rural life helps bridge the city-country divide. "Understanding the challenges, the care and the stewardship that's involved in agriculture ... builds some trust and respect that's good for our industries," he said. "If people have a glass of wine or a chat with the people that made it, or talk to the farmer, that changes things. "It builds a connection with the country."
