More than 1000 people have backed the call for Traditional Owners to have a greater role in managing Purnululu National Park in WA’s Kimberley region, but four years after a Native Title determination recognised their rights over the area, joint management has yet to begin.

For petition facilitator and Traditional Owner Ben Cross the issue is more than who sits at the table when decisions about Purnululu are made.

Mr Cross said that Greater Traditional Owner involvement in managing Country is important for cultural continuity, health and wellbeing.

“There’s a lot of social issues, health issues and dispossession of country, land, people being moved off country creating spiritual despair for mental health, physical health,” he said.

The parliamentary petition called for funding to support Traditional Owners’ participation in managing the park and for its outdated management plan to be replaced.

The current plan dates back to 1995–2005 and does not reflect the three Traditional Owner groups Gija, Jaru and Malgin or the Bungle Bungles Aboriginal Corporation established to represent them.

Mr Cross said the State Government had indicated an organisation representing Traditional Owners was needed before joint management could proceed, but those discussions have since stalled.

“We have never seen joint management of the park despite the agreement,” he said.

Mr Cross said he wanted the Corporation to have a more formal role in discussions about how Purnululu was managed, rather than relying on limited opportunities to meet with government representatives.

Gregory McIntyre SC, a barrister who represented the Jaru community during its Native Title hearing said the 2022 determination helped establish a basis for joint management but was not a legal requirement for it to occur.

The Kimberley Land Council said in a 2022 media statement that following a 28-year legal battle, Purnululu and Gajangara Jaru native title claimants received recognition over the rights and interests for Purnululu National Park, Purnululu Conservation Reserve and other areas.

Joint management arrangements are in place across Western Australia, including at Cape Range National Park and Murujuga National Park.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ 2024-2025 annual report said 30 joint management arrangements covered 13.2 million hectares, accounting for 42.8 per cent estate managed by the Parks and Wildlife Service.

Purnululu is not included in these arrangements.

A State Government spokesperson said the DBCA would continue to manage the park with a focus on conservation and visitor experience until the management plan was replaced.

“The Cook Labor Government, through DBCA, will continue to engage with Traditional Owners on park management through the Purnululu World Heritage Area Advisory Committee,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said any review of the management arrangements would need to be considered through the State government’s budgetary process and balanced against other priorities.

Mr Cross said he was continuing a struggle that had also been taken up from his parents and grandparents and did not want future generations to continue fighting for a role in managing Country.

“Not another generation of people to pass on, going down generation to take on the same fight that has been going on since inception of this National Park,” he said.

The petition closed on September 3 and will now be considered by the State Government.