Indigenous research uncovers a framework for obtaining a cultural license to operate

May 30, 2024
Dismissal of a partner

• As the blue economy continues to grow and new, emerging industries enter our oceans, it is critical to pay attention to pathways for collaboration with First Nations.
• This research offers pathways to obtaining a cultural license to operate (CLO) by working with First Nations with respect and integrity.
• A study conducted by the Blue Economy CRC and led by CSIRO developed an initial CLO framework.
• The study presents 5 key recommendations that represent a significant opportunity to change course and move from rhetoric to action towards better models of coexistence and partnership with First Nations.

The Indigenous Research Report released today presents a CLO framework for enabling industries to engage with First Nations to gain trust and cultural legitimacy in their activities in the blue economy.

Research led by Australia’s national science agency CSIRO and funded by the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Center provides a new standard for industry practice on the concept of a ‘cultural license to operate’ in blue economy sectors such as offshore aquaculture and renewable marine energy.

CSIRO Indigenous researcher Dr Cass Hunter of the Kuku Yalanji and Maluiligal Nation said the industry must gain a cultural license to operate through respectful collaboration with First Nations.

“We are changing the script so that industry considers the competitive advantage of working directly with First Nations by changing the corporate responsibility formula,” Dr. Hunter said.

“This framework provides guidance to move away from the transactional way of engaging with First Nations through ‘keeping up appearances’ or ‘at a distance’ towards the ultimate goal of transformation – a truly beneficial relationship with First Nations.

“We hope that the framework will help turn cultural license to operate into an opportunity, rather than being seen as an unnecessary cost associated with operating in an ethical, fair and culturally responsible way.”

CSIRO marine ethnoecologist and Quandamooka woman Mibu Fischer said the industry needed to build trust and gain cultural legitimacy to operate.

“Cultural license is a really complicated thing. This could be anything from a community’s right to veto a project to a community’s consent to operate in its maritime country,” Ms. Fischer said.

“This could mean the right of communities to engage with or profit from land-based facilities. It can be a whole range of things, but the cultural license aspect is about giving the community that power to make decisions about our future in the blue space.

The report identifies five key recommendations for the industry, including:

1. Investing in implementing and testing the CLO framework;
2. Bringing together different sectors to address alternative perspectives and points of tension;
3. Commitment to education to build deeper understanding and root out existing institutional misunderstandings;
4. Raise industry standards by demanding leadership; AND
5. Invest in a more flexible and risk-tolerant approach to encourage industry to actively consider the competitive advantages of working with First Nations.

The report calls on “industry leaders to increase their ambition to drive the transformation needed to achieve benefits goals and renew the awareness in our societies that if we make ethical and fair choices that respectfully lead us forward together, we can make a positive difference.” for the future of ocean sustainability.”

Blue Economy CRC will host a webinar led by project manager Dr Cass Hunter, CSIRO, who will discuss the report and project outcomes.

RegisterOr, download the full report and watch the short film Cultural License to Operate.

For Blue Economy CRC Please direct inquiries to Vanessa Fairweather, Communications Manager, tel 0466 393 324 or [email protected].

Originally published by Blue Economy CRC.