All Australian energy ministers released the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy in December 2024, honouring a commitment to put First Nations front and centre of the country’s clean energy transition.
The First Nations Clean Energy Strategy sets a vision and pathway for government, industry and First Nations to work in a coherent coordinated approach to address access to affordable clean power, and ensure benefit-sharing, partnerships, and First Nations-led projects.
Driven by an ask in 2022 from our member-based First Nations Clean Energy Network, hundreds of First Nations, industry and government leaders from around the country drove its design through roundtables and consultations.
It really is a solutions focussed document that has been shaped by our people.
The First Nations Clean Energy Strategy is a signal to our communities that government is backing us, and a signal to industry that when you prioritise First Nations partnerships, the government will also back you.
It recognises that the scale and pace of the energy transition needs engagement from all of us, and that our people are critical to that.
Through its implementation, we can start to deal with existing inequities in energy access.
Background
The Federal Government and all state and territory Energy Ministers in August 2022 committed to the co-design of a First Nations Clean Energy Strategy to ensure First Nations people help drive the energy transformation.
It was seen as the opportunity to review laws, regulation and policy, to lift barriers and implement regulatory reform, and to stoke government investment in innovation, technology and infrastructure, so that First Nations people can share in and benefit from the benefits of the renewable energy transition.
The government had recognised that First Nations people are important partners in the clean energy transformation.
"Many First Nations communities are experiencing the impacts of climate changes as well as unreliable and expensive power. First Nations people have strong local and cultural knowledge, including management of Country, that should inform how Australia transforms its energy systems to achieve net zero emissions."
Step One: Policy Overviews and Roundtables
The First Nations Clean Energy Strategy development began in early 2023. It involved the production of policy papers for each jurisdiction and the facilitation of two-day roundtables in each State and Territory.
Policy overviews
To inform roundtable participants, the First Nations Clean Energy Network produced policy overview papers for each jurisdiction. The policy overviews aimed to provide background and context for the Federal Governmentʼs consultation on the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy, and focussed on three key areas: (1) demographic (population) overview, (2) Aboriginal land estate, polities, organisations and governance, and (3) energy policy.
In addition to a Federal Government Policy Initiative overview, significant policy overviews produced during 2023 included:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
Roundtables
Up to 2,000 Traditional Owners and representatives from First Nations communities, industry, key government departments and Federal, State and Territory representatives, lawyers, academics and policy experts attended nine roundtables occurring from March 2023 to February 2024.
- 27-28 March 2023, Port Hedland, Western Australia
- 16-17 May 2023, Alice Springs, Northern Territory
- 24 August 2023, Canberra, ACT
- 28-29 August 2023, Cairns, Queensland
- 11-12 September 2023, Adelaide, South Australia
- 30-31 October 2023, Fremantle, Western Australia
- 27-28 November 2023, Geelong, Victoria
- 7-8 December 2023, Wollongong, New South Wales
- 15-16 February 2024, Hobart, Tasmania
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) presented the roundtables to participants as an opportunity to outline barriers and opportunities, and come up with recommendations for actions, policies and programs that Federal and State/Territory governments should implement as part of the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy so that First Nations can meaningfully share in the benefits of the clean energy transition. The roundtables were also designed to provide a forum for government and industry to better understand First Nations perspectives and to collaborate on actions, policies, and programs that could be implemented as part of the Strategy.
The First Nations Clean Energy Network assisted DCCEEW with the roundtables. The Network’s Steering Group and members from Canada’s Indigenous Clean Energy also attended select roundtables.
Roundtable reports
Representatives from DCCEEW, and at times the First Nations Clean Energy Network, wrote up what was said at each roundtable:
- ACT: ACT Key Learnings from Roundtable and ACT DCCEEW Roundtable Insights
- New South Wales: NSW DCCEEW Roundtable Insights
- Northern Territory: NT Key Learnings from Roundtable and NT DCCEEW Roundtable Insights
- Queensland: Qld Key Learnings from Roundtable and QLD DCCEEW Roundtable Insights
- South Australia: SA Key Learnings from Roundtable and SA DCCEEW Roundtable Insights
- Tasmania: TAS DCCEEW Roundtable Insights
- Victoria: VIC DCCEEW Roundtable Insights
- Western Australia: WA Key Learnings from Pilbara Roundtable and WA (Pilbara) DCCEEW Roundtable Insights
- Western Australia: WA Key Learnings from Freemantle Roundtable and WA (Fremantle) DCCEEW Roundtable Insight
Step Two: Establishment of First Nations Clean Energy and Emissions Reduction Advisory Committee
The Department established the non-statutory First Nations Clean Energy and Emissions Reduction Advisory Committee on 30 April 2023.
The committee advises the Minister and Department on First Nations perspectives on Clean Energy and Climate Change and has the role of approving the final Strategy.
Step Three: Public consultation
On 14 November 2023, the Department released the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy Consultation Paper, seeking views on a number of goals and objectives, underpinned by five guiding principles:
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Access to reliable clean energy is a human right
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First Nations peoples will self-determine how they lead, participate in and benefit from the clean energy transformation
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First Nations peoples are stewards and Custodians of Country, their connection is ongoing and enduring
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Cultural heritage should be recognised, protected and celebrated
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Everyone is responsible for building genuine partnerships and collaboration, underpinned by monitoring and reporting
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water sought feedback by 9 February 2024.
The Department received 90 submissions that are published on their website, including a submission from the First Nations Clean Energy Network.
Step Four: Final report
The First Nations Clean Energy Strategy framework was endorsed by Energy Ministers in July 2024.
Ministers noted the Strategy would be released before the end of 2024.
On 6 December 2024, all Australian energy ministers released the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy, honouring a commitment to put First Nations front and centre of the country’s clean energy transition.
Read the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy
Want to know more? Contact DCCEEW