Back in the August 19th edition, we talked about Intellectual Property rights (IP) in relation to quandongs and ensuring that if anyone wants to start a business using quandongs, any benefits are shared with the Indigenous people of the area from which the quandongs come from.

This week Create NSW has announced they are sending out a roadshow to tour the state to talk about Indigenous Culture and Intellectual Property (ICIP). This information is focused on the Arts however, the facts are the same.

The Create NSW Facebook post states: “ICIP includes all aspects of cultural practices, traditional knowledge, resources and knowledge systems developed by Indigenous people as part of their Indigenous identity.”

The Arts Law website has an information sheet about ICIP: Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property.

This explains that the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples says that “Indigenous Peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expression. This recognises “ICIP rights”. Principles of self-determination and free, prior and informed consent underpin respect for ICIP and ICIP rights.”

Australian law currently does not specifically protect ICIP or recognise ICIP rights. However, there are bits in other laws and legal obligations that will protect Indigenous Intellectual property while people continue to push to have the laws passed. The Create NSW ICIP information visit to our region is happening in Broken Hill December 10th. We’ll bring you more, closer to the date. 

This article appeared in Wilcannia News, 14 October 2025.