Australia, Wet or Dry, North or South: Addressing Environmental Impacts and the Exclusion of Aboriginal Peoples in Northern Water Development

Abstract

In view of the drive in policy circles to develop northern Australia and the concomitant dependence on water resources this will involve, this article argues that environmental and distributive justice considerations are critical to the sustainable development of the region’s water resources. Without appropriate provision to involve Aboriginal peoples in the planning, development and governance of water resources, northern Australia development will continue the historical exclusion of Aboriginal peoples’ rights to water in Australian water resources policy. This article also draws attention to the concerning absence in the current policy for northern Australia development of lessons learned..