Our Land Thoughts – The Land Sector and Australia’s Development Goals

More than 200 submissions were received which can be viewed here, including LEI’s submission. Our submission emphasised the importance of DFAT reengaging with the land sector in the Indo-Pacific. We define ‘land sector engagement’ to include context specific measures to support inclusive land tenure security, the collection and utilisation of geospatial data, and stable and effective land administration systems.

Our key messages included the following:

• Engaging with the land sector underpins the achievement of numerous development milestones that are key to regional success – including improved service delivery and infrastructure, improved food security, gender equality and progress on climate resilience and sustainable urbanisation.
• Working in the land sector builds on Australia’s capacity, expertise and leadership in this sector, drawing on the foundational work conducted for the seminal 2008 publication Making Land Work, published as part of the then AusAid’s Pacific Land Program.
• It is in Australia’s national interests to support the land sector across the Indo-Pacific region, given that improved land administration offers certainty and clarity for Australian businesses seeking to invest in the region.

Strategies to achieve the region’s development objectives, and strengthen DFAT’s aid programme were highlighted at the recent Australasian Aid Conference #AAC2022 which included a broad spectrum of speakers and participation from the Indo Pacific region. Senior Land and Law Specialist, Renée Chartres, attended the annual conference on behalf of LEI. Renée filled us in on her main take-aways, including:

• Listen – listen – listen – the aid system needs to stop designing programmes without the participation of those on the ground who know the solutions and strategies that work.
• Climate change is everyone’s business. We need to change our tense. What country’s “will do” is too late. The time to act is now.
• The cost of adaptation in our region will be enormous – this will eat into national budgets and undermine economic growth – this is particularly worrying given the number of countries in the Pacific already experiencing high levels of debt.

Now more than ever supporting equitable and inclusive land systems are key to addressing the challenges in our region. Building processes to identify suitable land for renewable energy sites; supporting collaborative discussions on how to balance the economic potential of land with its spiritual and cultural value (as well as its role in providing food security); and bringing voice and accountability to decisions around land and land use – are just some examples of what could be done.