Protect the Martuwarra Fitzroy River!

Sign the petition to protect the Martuwarra!

Help protect the lifeblood of the Kimberley and sign the petition to stop proposals for large-scale water extraction in the Martuwarra Fitzroy River catchment!

The Kimberley’s National Heritage-listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River is recognised as one of the world’s healthiest, free-flowing river systems.
The living waters of the Martuwarra, its tributaries, wetlands, floodplains and groundwater stores are renowned across Australia for fishing and tourism, support culture, the livelihoods of thousands of people, and are a haven for rare wildlife such as the critically endangered freshwater sawfish.
Developments that threaten to take huge amounts of water from the river, its floodplains or ancient water systems, threaten the health of the river, wildlife and community, and risk a Murray-Darling disaster.
In 2017, the incoming Labor Government made an election promise to protect the Martuwarra Fitzroy River.
I call on you to act on this promise by committing to long-term protection of the Martuwarra, its floodplains, wetlands and groundwater, that is co-designed with Traditional Owners.
In 2021, 43,000 people, like me, sent a submission to the government, calling for all plans for large-scale water extraction to be abandoned and for long-term protection of the Martuwarra to be enacted.
Following this record-breaking public response and strong support from Traditional Owners, the government made a policy promise in 2023 to protect the Martuwarra’s surface water flows. Now this commitment must be made binding
The future of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River and its people, culture and wildlife depends on you keeping your promise to protect this living river.

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Read the Petition

The Kimberley’s National Heritage-listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River is recognised as one of the world’s healthiest, free-flowing river systems.

The living waters of the Martuwarra, its tributaries, wetlands, floodplains and groundwater stores are renowned across Australia for fishing and tourism, support culture, the livelihoods of thousands of people, and are a haven for rare wildlife such as the critically endangered freshwater sawfish.

Developments that threaten to take huge amounts of water from the river, its floodplains or ancient water systems, threaten the health of the river, wildlife and community, and risk a Murray-Darling disaster.

In 2017, the incoming Labor Government made an election promise to protect the Martuwarra Fitzroy River.

I call on you to act on this promise by committing to long-term protection of the Martuwarra, its floodplains, wetlands and groundwater, that is co-designed with Traditional Owners.

In 2021, 43,000 people, like me, sent a submission to the government, calling for all plans for large-scale water extraction to be abandoned and for long-term protection of the Martuwarra to be enacted.

Following this record-breaking public response and strong support from Traditional Owners, the government made a policy promise in 2023 to protect the Martuwarra’s surface water flows. Now this commitment must be made binding

The future of the Martuwarra Fitzroy River and its people, culture and wildlife depends on you keeping your promise to protect this living river.

Why the Martuwarra is special

The Martuwarra Fitzroy River is an extraordinary part of our shared natural heritage and is home to rare and unique wildlife such as the critically endangered freshwater sawfish.

The Nationally Heritage Listed river provides water and livelihoods for thousands of people and is a renowned destination for tourists and fishers.

The clean and fresh water from the Martuwarra also supports the coral reefs, mangrove forests, pearling and fishing along the Kimberley coast, the world’s most pristine tropical coastline.

Why the River needs protection

Murray-Darling style irrigation proposals that pump water from the Martuwarra Fitzroy River channel, tributaries or floodplains would reduce and redirect water flows and increase pollution. Establishing a new irrigation industry on the Martuwarra would create an unacceptable risk to culture, community livelihoods, wildlife, wetlands and fishing.

Traditional Owners of the Kimberley area have repeatedly made clear their support for long-term protections for the Fitzroy River; in the 2011 National Heritage Listing, 2016 Fitzroy River declaration, and the 2018 Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council.

The way to protect the Martuwarra's flows is by committing to long-term and legally binding protection for the river channel, tributaries, and floodplains from Murray-Darling style irrigation and dams.