STATE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS ABORIGINAL LEADERSHIP ON SANDALWOOD

BY GERARD MAZZA

Birriliburu Traditional Owner Clinton Farmer and owner of sandalwood enterprise Kutkububba Aboriginal Corporation with a young sandalwood tree. Credit: Supplied, K Farmer Dutjahn Foundation.

The state government has partnered with an Aboriginal organisation to support First Nations leadership in Western Australia’s wild sandalwood industry.

Sandalwood is in high demand globally, and grows in parts of the Pilbara, Goldfields and Murchison areas.

The Cook government has contributed $280,000 to the Aboriginal Sandalwood Industry Capability Program and partnered with the K Farmer Dutjahn Foundation.

The organisation works with a range of different Aboriginal groups on sustainable sandalwood production.

Foundation CEO Charity Coffman said the partnership could help Traditional Custodians care for country and become economically self-sufficient. 

“It’s a great show of leadership from the government really to recognise the importance of Aboriginal custodians of sandalwood, and that really we need to invest in the right people to get the right outcomes,” she said.

“Those right outcomes are sustainable economies for Aboriginal people.”

Forestry Minister Jackie Jarvis said: "This program is a wonderful example of cross-government collaboration with Aboriginal-led organisations to deliver ecologically sustainable economic opportunities.

"I look forward to seeing the benefits flow from this innovative approach to the sustainable management of WA's wild sandalwood resources."

Listen to the full interview with K Farmer Dutjahn Foundation CEO Charity Coffman: