Fur plays a significant role in Traditional Owner groups’ identity, cultural practice, and connection to Country. Our contribution to policy thinking around a potential ban on its sale in Victoria highlighted how proposed policy inadvertently sidelines Traditional Owner groups’ rights and interests in animals.
We attended a stakeholder workshop on 1 December 2025 and prepared a written submission. It recommends future policy reform must:
- centre the rights and interests of Traditional Owners and uphold existing agreements
- include explicit exemptions to protect Traditional Owner recognised rights’
- recognise and embed collective rights under UNDRIP and ICIP principles
- actively involve Traditional Owners in co-design to avoid unintended consequences that create legal conflict or erode cultural authority.
