CEO report from Anna Boustead
Last week saw a landmark policy development for ICIN members and Indigenous groups with an interest in carbon across Australia, with ACCU Scheme Amendments formally put to Parliament as proposed legislative changes.
ICIN members have long advocated for legislative change to fix ACCU Scheme loopholes to requiring upfront consent since it published its Guidelines to Seeking Free, Prior and Informed Consent from Indigenous communities for carbon projects in 2019, through multiple ACCU Scheme reviews and policy processes. We are pleased to see that much of our members' feedback has been incorporated into this Bill. Read ICIN's response to the Bill below.
ICIN team members (Jenaya Graham, Tyron Bin Hitam-Keeffe and myself) are at the Kimberley Land Council AGM week at Wunggubun community this week. We are looking forward to connecting with members in the Kimberley region and sharing our guides about carbon projects. Come and say hello if you are there!
We have also opened EoIs for a qualified person or consultancy to assist with ICIN's Strategic Review, see below for more information. Also, plans for the 2027 Savanna Fire Forum are warming up as we get into the late dry season. Sponsorship and presenter EoIs are now open, we want to hear from you - help shape the incredible program.
We are thinking of all of the fire managers in our network as the weather gets warmer. Take care and thank you for all the work that you do!
ICIN welcomes ACCU Scheme legislative changes
August 20th 2026 marked an important day for the ICIN, with a long-awaited Bill of amendments introduced into Australia’s Parliament to strengthen integrity in the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme.
"Indigenous people are leading high integrity carbon projects in Australia. As the peak body representing Indigenous carbon credit producers, ICIN supports this Bill and looks forward to legislation being updated within the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011, the law that governs Australia’s carbon market, and has been overdue for an update,” said Sarah Parriman, Director, ICIN.
This Bill will strengthen recognition of Indigenous interests and community engagement requirements in the ACCU Scheme. However, legislative changes must occur alongside increased availability of resources for Indigenous groups contemplating carbon projects on their country, to effectively implement the intent of these changes.
Assistant Minister for Climate Change introduces ACCU Scheme Amendments Bill to Parliament
"At its heart, this bill makes a key improvement to the recognition of the rights and interests of First Nations peoples in the ACCU Scheme. Rather than seeking consent for projects on land that is recognised or claimed as native title after those projects have already been registered, this bill requires consent to be sought upfront and in a sensibly structured way, improving the scheme's alignment with the principles of free, prior and informed consent while continuing a focus on streamlined administration," said Assistant Minister Josh Wilson MP in his speech.
For more information, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has provided a summary on their website and will host a webinar on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm (AEST) to provide an overview of the key changes made between the exposure draft and the version introduced to Parliament. Please register here.
Savanna Fire Forum announcements
We are excited to confirm the 9th Savanna Fire Forum (SFF), Australia’s leading savanna fire event, will be held on Larrakia Country (Darwin) at the Darwin Convention Centre, from 23-25th February 2027. The Savanna Fire Forum will run for three days, with ICIN planning to host the National Indigenous Carbon Forum at a later date in 2027.
‘Fire is at the Heart’ is our theme in 2027, and we have opened our program expressions of interest (EoI) form to hear from interested presenters and rangers on the following topics: fire management, Indigenous knowledge and practice in savanna fire, innovation, industry best practice, good governance, emerging issues impacting the sector and carbon market updates. Submit your EoI today, help us shape this impactful program.
Our sponsorship prospectus has been launched. We invite prospective partners to submit their sponsorship interest by filling in the form on the back page of the document and submitting it to our event coordinator Aleea Moodie at [email protected]. Your sponsorship support is vital to ICIN delivering this landmark event, helps strengthen Indigenous leadership within land and climate policy and supports the ongoing success of the Indigenous carbon industry.
Expressions of interest – Strategic Advisor
ICIN is requesting quotes from suitable, independent and qualified persons or organisations to undertake its Strategic Review 2026 and support ICIN to design its new Strategic Plan 2027-2031. Reporting to the CEO and Board Directors, this engagement will also ensure alignment with the Constitutional Review, provide recommendations towards building and maintaining financial sustainability of ICIN over the next 5-10 years and develop a new proposed Membership Fee structure which addresses the needs of members and ICIN Ltd.
Indigenous-led carbon projects at Developing the North
Indigenous-led carbon projects were presented as a proven Aboriginal led remote economic development strategy at the 2026 Developing the North conference in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), with projects already delivering multiple benefits across northern Australia.
In the session, Indigenous Led Carbon Projects Delivering Significant Benefits for Climate, Country and Community, held on Thursday 6th August at the conference, Anna Boustead outlined how Indigenous-owned carbon projects are creating jobs, strengthening cultural land management and supporting climate action, while arguing that environment and climate must be central to all development strategy and planning.
"Real, impactful development which improves livelihoods doesn’t come from politicians cutting ribbons in cities; it comes from projects run by people in remote areas who live in, care for and make decisions about these places,” said Anna Boustead, who shared the stage with Mudburra Traditional Owners.
Mudburra Traditional Owners Janey Dixon, Gail Sandy and Aleeta Dixon spoke about the benefits of their Savanna Fire Management (SFM) carbon project, which has been operating for 10 years, is the first carbon project in Central Australia and is owned and run by Jinkaji Aboriginal Corporation in partnership with the Central Land Council (CLC) (pictured).
FREE Carbon farming workshops available to Indigenous groups
ICIN is delivering carbon farming workshops to share information about the carbon industry, and opportunities available for Indigenous people to participate. The most recent workshop was delivered in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) in August (pictured), with topics including carbon markets, carbon methods, Indigenous rights and interests and Free, Prior and Informed Consent. These workshops are delivered under the First Nations Carbon Farming Outreach Program funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water. If your community is interested in a carbon farming workshop, register an EoI below and we will be in contact.
Kind regards,
The ICIN Team
https://www.icin.org.au/