We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. AMSA commits itself to ongoing acts of reconciliation.
This Reconciliation Action Plan is an important step forward in the agency’s diversity and inclusion work, and one which all employees will have the opportunity to be a part of.
At AMSA, we recognise that caring for Country includes the marine environment. Indeed, our vision of safe and clean seas aligns with the important roles that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples already undertake in caring for our sea, coasts and air.
AMSA recognises the value of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
(UNDRIP) as a framework for better recognising and protecting the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Our RAP is consistent with the principles of UNDRIP; particularly the importance of consulting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on decisions affecting them and that respects for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ knowledge, cultures and traditional practices contributes to sustainable and equitable development and proper management of the environment. Our RAP provides the strategy required to fulfil our commitment to these rights.
In the past year, AMSA has been actively engaging with Traditional Owners on a range of maritime issues including working with vessel operators in the Torres Strait to improve safety, conducting research into the potential impact of ship wake in the Torres Strait, and we completed works on Good Island through a cultural heritage management agreement. To better support AMSA’s engagement with Traditional Owners we also launched our Indigenous Engagement Guidelines.
The drafting of a Reconciliation Action Plan is a further step in the right direction, and one we will continue building on and improving in the future.
Mick Kinley
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Maritime Safety Authority