In April 2026, Peter Garrett AM took over as chair of Landcare Australia from Doug Humann AM, marking another significant chapter in a notable career. Australian Rural & Regional News was interested to learn how Peter sees the potential of this enduring community environmental organisation and his role in it.

ARR.News: Can you give some detail as to what you see as your priorities and the priorities of Landcare as a whole in the short and medium term?

Peter Garrett: Because Landcare Australia is a community-driven conservation movement, my priority is to build on the extraordinary work already underway across the country. A big priority will be strengthening support for community-led land stewardship, backing the people on the ground, and continuing to grow the partnerships that underpin Landcare – across farmers, First Nations communities, volunteers, researchers and the next generation of leaders. I’ll be making sure we remain a force for good on climate, biodiversity protection and sustainable land management, while empowering the Landcare vision for more Australians to take action to care for the land and water that sustain us.

ARR.News: Landcare is well known for its great work with tree planting and erosion control. Do you see a role for Landcare in trickier landcare management such as feral animal and weed control (including from national parks) and bushfire mitigation (including fuel reduction)?

Peter Garrett: Landcare has always been about practical, community-based action to restore and protect landscapes, and that includes tackling complex environmental challenges. The strength of the movement lies in its ability to bring people together Australia wide – farmers, communities, and experts – to manage land sustainably and respond to evolving environmental pressures.

ARR.News: How would you be hoping to engage with farmers and landholders, both those that have dealt with Landcare and also those that have not, as yet?

Peter Garrett: I’m very keen to continue strengthening relationships and ensuring farmers and landholders are supported, heard and actively engaged.

I strongly encourage people to get involved as Landcare offers an open, practical way to connect with others, share knowledge and skills, and take part in caring for their land and communities. The health pay off – physical and mental – from spending time with others on country is tangible, and a great side benefit to Landcare activity.

ARR.News: Are you able to expand on how your time as Environment Minister might help with this role with Landcare?

Peter Garrett: My time as Environment Minister reinforced the importance of backing community-led environmental action. I introduced the Caring for Our Country program which was designed to support Landcare and similar groups, recognising that the people doing the work on the ground are essential to achieving long lasting results.

That experience, alongside my earlier work with the Australian Conservation Foundation helping to establish the national Landcare movement alongside the NFF, has given me a strong understanding of how policy, funding and advocacy can support communities to deliver real environmental gains.

ARR.News: Would you be trying to keep this role apolitical? 

Peter Garrett: I’ll call it as I see it and front of mind will be the fact that Landcare has always been a collaborative, grassroots movement bringing people together across communities and sectors. My focus is on supporting that spirit, working constructively with all partners to strengthen Landcare and deliver good results for the environment and communities.  

Peter Garrett appointed chair of Landcare Australia, calling on Australia to be a ‘force for good ’on climate: Landcare Australia

Landcare Australia, Media Release, 28 April 2026

Peter Garrett AM has been appointed chair of the Landcare Australia board, a national environment organisation, with Doug Humann AM stepping down after a 9-year tenure.

Garrett is well known as an environmentalist, musician and former national Environment Minister. He has been a long-time campaigner on a range of local and global issues, advocating for stronger laws to protect biodiversity, addressing the climate emergency, and supporting land conservation initiatives, Indigenous rights and reconciliation.

With a strong record of supporting community-led land stewardship through policy, funding and advocacy, Garrett plans to use his force for good to support the work of the landcare movement.

Serving as President of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), Garrett’s tenure coincided with the historic alliance between conservationists and farmers that created Landcare. He worked closely with ACF’s Phillip Toyne and the National Farmers’ Federation’s Rick Farley in lobbying the Hawke government to establish the National Landcare Programme and the national independent not for profit Landcare Australia.

Over the last 35 years, Landcare has evolved to now include volunteers in rural, regional and urban areas, and is made up of landcare groups, bushcare and ‘Friends of ’groups and other community-led environmental groups, First Nations Peoples, farmers, landholders, researchers, and the next generation of landcare leaders.

Peter Garrett AM said “Australia’s Landcare has been an outstanding world first conservation program, bringing together community, farmers and First Nations people to produce healthy and productive landcapes. I relish the opportunity to take this role and help build on the great work underway right across the country.”