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Australia Yarra River Protection Act 2017

Australia
National
Approved in 2017
Statutory law
Indigenous Model, Personhood, Rights Of Nature
Yarra River
Freshwater Ecosystem
Australian Government and Wurundjeri people
Government, Indigenous

Summary

In 2017, Australia passed the Yarra River Protection Act, which gives the Yarra River status as a living legal entity and includes Wurundjeri people in managing the river. It is the first legislation in Australia to be co-titled in a Traditional Owner language. The Act also establishes the Birrarung Council, which provides advice to the Minister in relation to the Yarra River land and must have two traditional owners. The purpose of the act is to protect the Yarra River, a river in south-central Victoria, Australia, for future generations.

Legal Document

To see the original legal document(s) for this initiative, click the links below:

Yarra River Protection Act 2017 [PDF]

Additional Resources

To see other supplementary information related to this initiative, click the links below:

Article - New law finally gives voice to the Yarra River’s traditional owners

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