The National Landcare movement welcomes the launch of the Parliamentary Friends of Landcare

The National Landcare Network and Landcare Australia celebrated the launch of the National Parliamentary Friends of Landcare on 16 March 2021. This is an important acknowledgement of the beneficial impact Landcare has on the environment, and the role Landcare plays in communities around Australia. The National Landcare Network and Landcare Australia thanked the Co-chairs, New South Wales Senator Perin Davey and Victorian Senator Raff Ciccone, and their parliamentary colleagues for championing the work of Landcare.

The Parliamentary Friends of Landcare was formally launched at Parliament House in Canberra with Senators and Members of Parliament, national and state landcare organisations, landcare groups and volunteers, and landcare supporters from across the country. The event was officially opened with a Welcome to Country by Uncle Wally Bell, a traditional custodian of the Ngunnawal lands of the Canberra region.

The Hon. David Littleproud, Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management; the Hon. Julie Collins MP, Shadow Minister for Agriculture; the Hon. Sussan Ley, Minister for the Environment, and Ms. Terri Butler MP, Shadow Minister for the Environment all spoke of their support for the Landcare movement, which celebrated its 30^th anniversary in 2019.

The launch of the Parliamentary Friends of Landcare strengthens the national bipartisan support for Landcare, ensuring the collective voices of grassroots Landcarers will be heard at a national level in the Australian parliament. The establishment of this Friends group signals to the community the wide parliamentary support and recognition for Landcare and the invaluable role landcarers play in caring for our country and building resilient, productive landscapes.

The Chairs of the National Landcare Network and Landcare Australia welcomed the group and thanked Senator Ciccone and Senator Davey and the large number of parliamentarians who expressed their support.

National Landcare Network Chair, Dr. Patrick O’Connor said the formation of the Parliamentary Friends of Landcare is a significant step forward in highlighting the important and inspiring work the Landcare movement does for our environment across Australia.

“The National Landcare Network looks forward to supporting the group and growing ties between parliamentarians and our Landcarers to help build understanding through all levels of our community.”

Landcare Australia Chair, Doug Humann AM said that members of parliament need to recognise the value of landcare in communities across Australia and embrace its inclusiveness.

“Drought, bushfires and now Covid-19 have made more difficult and critical our task of restoring health to our landscape and providing for a long-term sustainable future. A cohesive landcare movement is now more important than ever to the future of our natural assets and people.”

Parliamentary Friends of Landcare enables members of parliament to directly connect to the work of Landcare on the ground, strengthening the Landcare movement for the future.