The Hon Andrew Leigh MP
Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury
E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
ABC RADIO ILLAWARRA, BREAKFAST WITH MELINDA JAMES
TUESDAY, 2 JUNE 2026
SUBJECTS: Changes to leasing arrangements for Booderee National Park
MELINDA JAMES: Today is a very special day for the Wreck Bay Aboriginal community. There are changes to the leasing arrangements for Booderee National Park. As I keep saying, I think one of our more magical parts of what is already a pretty spectacular region. Have you ever spent beautiful nights sitting by a campfire near Green Patch, for example? So many beautiful, beautiful places, incredible beaches, absolutely pristine natural beauty. And of course, the traditional lands of the people of Wreck Bay. Well, the leasing arrangements will change. And to tell us more about how this is going to work, I'm joined by the Member for Fenner, which of course covers Wreck Bay, it being Jervis Bay territory – Andrew Leigh. Andrew Leigh, good morning.
ANDREW LEIGH: Good morning Mel, great to be with you.
MELINDA JAMES: Yes, again. We spoke last week about not such happy bit of news for the Wreck Bay community in relation to the PFAS contamination and the pursuit of 3M, but now a much happier story to talk about. This was foreshadowed. I remember a little while ago, at the anniversary of Booderee National Park being handed back to the Wreck Bay community that these leasing arrangements would change. But what's going to be different?
ANDREW LEIGH: So this will increase the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council's share of revenue from 25 per cent to 50 per cent and it also increases the annual rents that are paid to reflect current market values. And that's ahead of a transition to sole management of Booderee by WBACC in the middle of 2028. So this is really a reflection of the extraordinary caring and custodianship that the local First Nations people deliver to Booderee National Park. As you say, a place of extraordinary beauty, source of jobs and revenue for the local community, and also that protection and custodianship that the local Indigenous community do so well.
MELINDA JAMES: So the share of revenue for the Wreck Bay community will increase from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. There'll be an increase in the rents that are paid to the Wreck Bay Community Council as well. But this handing back to the people of Wreck Bay, to the community, how does that work?
ANDREW LEIGH: So it’ll be solely managed by WBACC from 31st May 2028 and that's a pathway that has been set out over a long time. This is just part of that transition strongly supported by the Albanese Government and I know the Environment Minister Murray Watt has been working very closely through the director of National Parks, Ricky Archer, to make sure that we get this agreement in place.
MELINDA JAMES: How similar is this to the arrangements that are in place for Kakadu and Uluṟu-Kata Tjuta National Parks as well, that are solely under Aboriginal responsibility of traditional custodians, et cetera? Is it the same kind of arrangement?
ANDREW LEIGH: It will be Mel. I think it's an astute question because it points to where we're going for this. We're going to sole management through steadily stepping up the revenue and the involvement. This is also going to mean more opportunities for people in the Wreck Bay community. So as they get more revenue through it, as they have a stronger hand in its future, then they'll ultimately take over that sole responsibility which is the case of a range of other critical national assets.
MELINDA JAMES: Now we know how popular it is for visitors as well, of course. So popular that in fact, during peak periods there's a ballot that people hotly contest and cross their fingers and hope their names are pulled out around Christmas time and Easter, et cetera. So will it mean anything for visitors to the park potentially, and access to various camping sites, that sort of thing?
ANDREW LEIGH: Look, I think visitors will see the same thing but they may see more First Nations faces managing this work as the transition moves forward. That's certainly what visitors to Kata Tjuta and to Uluru have found over the time. That's good. With more jobs being available in the local community, more employment opportunities, more chances to be involved in that stewardship of an extraordinary asset which of course these First Nations people have been managing for tens of thousands of years.
MELINDA JAMES: Yeah, there's been a lot of involvement in things like we've talked about on this program. Fox control, other feral pest control, weed control, just basic infrastructure as well. A lot's already being done and also dealing with some of the marine park aspects of the place as well and ensuring that the ocean's healthy. So there's already so much being done, isn't there?
ANDREW LEIGH: There really is. And you know, I think one way in which people can conceive this Mel is that we've had a bit of an interregnum. For tens of thousands of years, First Nations people have managed these lands, for a couple of hundred years they didn't and now we'll go back to the arrangement that has been in place for generation after generation.
MELINDA JAMES: Well it is fantastic news for the Wreck Bay community. I'm sure they welcome it wholeheartedly and we'll find out – yeah, I'm sure we'll talk about this more as we head towards that middle of 2028. Thank you so much for talking to us this morning.
ANDREW LEIGH: Absolutely, thanks Mel.
MELINDA JAMES: That's Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Member for Fenner, which covers Wreck Bay of course in the Jervis Bay territory. So great news for the Wreck Bay Community Council.
ENDS