**Published name**
1. Are the draft principles, and goals proposed appropriate and achievable? Are there any gaps or do you have suggestions for other that could be considered?
The principles and goals are appropriate. More explicit recognition that this is an economic inclusion policy which will require simultaneous inter-generational engagement eg. Elders, adults and children to drive the transformation required.
2. What needs to change to ensure that First Nations people can access reliable, clean energy on an equitable basis, including those First Nations people located in metropolitan, regional and remote areas of Australia?
National housing agreement and Closing the Gap- solar panels on all public and social housing, retrofits and all new builds - attached to any Federal housing funds. Community education on energy use, efficiency, school programs on renewables.
3. How should government and industry support First Nations people to own and manage renewable energy assets for long-term sustainability and community benefit?
Education - school based programs to help kids understand how solar panels work and electricity works. Establish hubs for VET and higher education training focused on renewables, water, housing - build a workforce. Work with land trusts and councils
4. What strategies are most likely to improve how quality information, data and resources concerning the clean energy transformation is developed and disseminated to First Nations communities?
Community education and engagement. Communication resources in plain English and language. Demonstrate the positive impacts renewables are having on people's lives. Frame the transformation in the context of climate adaptation and self determination
5. What is the best way to build First Nations awareness and knowledge of clean energy and who should foster and deliver these outcomes? Do you have any suggested examples?
https://cfat.org.au/bushlight-archive#:~:text=Bushlight%20was%20CfAT's%20renewable%20energy,Territory%2C%20Western%20Australia%20and%20Queensland.
https://www.alec.org.au/save_energy_and_water A national program delivered locally and regionally.
6. What aspects of the current regulatory environment that presently govern Australia’s energy system most impact First Nations ability to participation and benefit from the clean energy transformation? What strategies would be effective in reducing these impacts?
The fossil fuel economy and its backers in Parliament. Short-termism. Long term view.Solar and battery installs mandatory on all new builds and state and territory plans to roll out on existing housing stock. Renewable energy as an economic enabler.
7. Which behaviours or outcomes should government consider incentivising through regulation, policy or programs to improve First Nations participation in Australia’s energy system?
Renewable energy as an economic enabler. Education, sector and workforce development. Build capacity for First Nations enterprises to partner in large scale developments. First Nations have been last in line since 1788, let's flip it this time.
8. What is the best way to build First Nations organisations’ capacity and expertise in clean energy development?
Education - this is an inter-generational challenge. School based and community education programs. Create jobs and opportunities for people. Create reasons for FN organisations to engage, from the household to the large-scale projects.
9. What is the best way that governments and industry can build their internal capacity to support First Nations participation and benefit?
Start by listening. Asking questions. Being genuine in their engagement. Seek to support First Nations aspirations first, rather than convince them of your way of thinking or your proposal or project. Look to partner and support rather than coerce.
10. What role should industry play in supporting First Nations develop their coordination and capacity?
Supporting the development of the education resources and the roll out. Working to support business capacity development through targeted workshops, training and partnerships. Not done to convince or coerce but to support the overall transformation.
11. What role do you think First Nations On-Country planning can play in realising benefits in the energy transition?
On-country planning processes can be adapted to consider the energy transformation. Looking at assets, threats, opportunities and applying to community/land trust/native title context. Key is to be ready, as extractive processes are on the move.
12. What is required to ensure First Nations Businesses are ready and able to participate in Australia’s Clean Energy transition?
Targeted program of education and engagement. Training to build the local workforce required eg. more First Nations electricians, electrical engineers, solar installers, maintenance etc. Investment by government and private sector to develop.
13. How could more opportunities for First Nations owned business be created for the Clean Energy industry?
Engage with the growing Blak Business sector on clean energy transformation and connecting the industry with the sector. Whole of industry from mining critical minerals through to the recycling of batteries and solar panels. Circular economy.
14. What workforce development approaches will maximise First Nations participation in the clean energy workforce? What are the barriers to this happening and how can they be overcome?
Work at multiple levels at the same time. Engage with school students, VET and employment opportunities. Socialise the transformation with Elders and leaders. Lack of opportunities. Can't be what you can't see. Cultural informed training hubs.
15. To improve First Nations access to finance, what strategies are required?
Preparation and planning. Build capacity and capability for projects. Private and public investment. Multiple scales - from the household - accessing grants through to large-scale - finance and impact investment. Equitable partnerships.
16. What actions will lead to greater First Nations ownership of major renewable energy projects?
More navigable pathways for engaging with land owners for the development of projects. Aboriginal land is not seen as the first choice for investment as the land councils are not generally set up to enable and facilitate ownership of projects.
17. What are the key barriers to greater First Nations participation and benefit in renewable energy projects and how can they be overcome?
Lack of capacity and capability. Focus on dealing with general life challenges. Difficult to navigate land tenure. Working with Land Councils, land trusts and PBCs to see the opportunity that the energy transformation brings. Education and engagement
18. What can industry put in place when developing clean energy projects to ensure the cultural responsibilities of First Nations people are implemented throughout the project life cycle?
'Do no harm' approach. Engage early. Seek to understand priorities for the community. Work to support them rather than seek to get some signatures on the dotted line. Partner with the community. Long term approaches. Inter-generational focus.
19. What does an ideal scenario look like where First Nations people can effectively manage their Country and cultural heritage responsibilities in co-existence with clean energy assets?
The community is benefiting with cheap/free and reliable power, funds supporting cultural and land management activities and the project is viewed as a 'good' member of the community, rather than just a 'taker'. The land around the assets is useable.
20. What does Free, Prior and Informed Consent look like to your organisation? And how can it be achieved in practice?
Engaging with the right people early in the process. Listening to what their views and aspirations are. Provide open and honest information about the proposal. Positives and potential negatives. Provide examples. Seek partnership and agreement.
21. Please suggest documented examples of best practice cultural heritage protection models or standards being applied in domestic or international jurisdictions?
The First Nations in Canada seem more advanced in this area. Would be looking to there and the First Nations Clean Energy Network and Original Power are the leaders in Australia in this area. Need to broadly roll out the model of engagement.
22. What can government and industry put in place to ensure that First Nations environmental values and expertise inform the clean energy transformation and that Indigenous design thinking is integrated into clean energy projects?
Include First Nations people in the process. Develop a sector and showcase best practice. Ask these questions as part of the education roll out across the country. Design competitions and partnerships to demonstrate and provide living examples.
23. Please provide any other comments and suggestion you might have in relation to the development of a First Nations Clean Energy Strategy?
Thanks. It's been a challenge with the 250 characters - would recommend up to 500 to get the best out of this process. DKA is keen to be a part of supporting the development and implementation to ensure remote areas benefit in this important process.
