Those who've cared the longest should have a strong say

This should not just be a bureaucratic network. Like the proposed international approach, it should present a meaningful opportunity for expert Australian Indigenous advice on World Heritage to our Australian governments.

According to Australia's World Heritage Committee Term Report for 2007–2011, Australia prides itself on how it "cemented its reputation as an international leader and noted itself as a champion of operational reform".

However, this report fails to mention the word 'Indigenous' or 'Aboriginal People' once in its 17 pages. Clearly we still have a long way to go.

Indigenous people play an extremely important role in protecting and managing Australia's natural and cultural resources, particularly in protected areas. Aboriginal people believe many of these values would not be still present if it weren't for the constant interactions they have with their landscapes.

Governments, non-governments, research institutions and others need to value Indigenous people's ecological and cultural knowledge systems. Substantial research and documented materials support and reflect the importance and legitimacy of Indigenous traditional knowledge.

When will we in Australia start to view and manage our Australian landscape with the benefit of Indigenous expertise?

As an Indigenous person with traditional country within a World Heritage property, I look forward to a future that truly does recognise Indigenous cultural and ecological knowledge and heritage and embraces a new approach to managing our precious country.