Celebration of the Treaty of Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge

I pay my respects to Elders, past and present.

I also acknowledge and extend my respect to all First Nations people here today, including my parliamentary colleagues Senator Jana Stewart and Dr Gordon Reid, Ambassador Justin Mohamed and the First Nations members of the World Intellectual Property Organization's Indigenous Caucus.

You don't get a lot of Indigenous Caucus' in multilateral systems do you?

It is of note that this is the first time an Indigenous Caucus has been part of a WIPO Diplomatic Conference. It is a rare event across the United Nations.

Their dedication and strength, in fighting for this outcome for decades is the reason we are here today.

Parliamentary and ministerial colleagues.

Distinguished guests.

Today, we celebrate a remarkable achievement for the international community – and an outcome with important benefits for Australian First Nations People.

The conclusion and adoption of the Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge.

We are delighted to welcome to Australia Director-General Daren Tang of the World Intellectual Property Organization to join us for this occasion.

He and I are from the same part of the world, and it is very good to have him here.

Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have been innovators, inventors and knowledge-holders for over 65,000 years.

All across this land, the vibrant history of Australia's First Nations peoples tells the story of an ancient culture that continues today.

Whether it is firestick farming used to sustainably manage Country, or the engineering of great stone fish traps across rivers and seas.

Whether it was the practices of cultivating crops over tens of thousands of years, or the discovery and use of potent natural medicines.

That unbroken line of innovation has continued to this day, despite what was wrought by the fiction of terra nullius.

The traditional knowledge of Australia's First Peoples transformed this land.

Made it liveable, made it home.

That knowledge deserves international recognition.

This treaty does just that.

For the first time, First Nations peoples' genetic resources and traditional knowledge will have formal legal recognition.

The treaty acknowledges the link between traditional knowledge, innovation and intellectual property.

It obliges signatories to this treaty to ensure patent applicants declare the source of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge on which their invention is based.

This will make it easier for First Nations communities to identify the use of their knowledge.

It can spur collaboration between researchers, innovators and First Nations communities, opening up new opportunities for First Nations entrepreneurship and creating economic opportunities for individuals and also communities.

This treaty is remarkable for another reason.

This treaty serves as a source for optimism.

193 member states have agreed on new rules to the world's intellectual property system.

That is an extraordinary achievement.

We live in a world that is increasingly divided, where consensus is so much harder to achieve. But we have moved together. We have collectively moved the intellectual property system a step forward.

I want to acknowledge the leadership and tenacity of Director General Tang for helping land this treaty.

This result advances innovation and provides a place for traditional knowledge within the global intellectual property system.

It is an important beginning – but as always, in every area of change – there is always more to be done.

The Treaty did not deliver everything First Nations peoples sought.

It does not create new intellectual property rights for traditional knowledge or traditional cultural expression.

The Albanese Government is taking further steps domestically, including through the development of legislation, to provide further protections for traditional knowledge.

We have heard First Nations peoples' calls to better understand how intellectual property can assist with their export opportunities.

For that reason, I am pleased today to announce the Australia-WIPO Bushfoods Cooperation Project, a project that will help First Nations exporters navigate the international intellectual property landscape and enjoy the benefits of the world intellectual property regime.

Finally, I want to finish on by again recognising what it takes to get here.

It's easy to be the Minister, you sign off on a brief that says yes to the treaty – and then you come and give a speech!

This has been years of work. Tireless work to realise this outcome.

More people than I can list today deserve recognition for your efforts.

I thank all of you, and I would like to acknowledge a few key individuals.

Ian Goss—former WIPO Inter-Governmental Committee Chair who helped craft the treaty text.

Jodie McAlister—who chaired the main negotiating committee; an enormous task.

Ambassadors Justin Mohamed and James Baxter—the co-heads of the Australian delegation – and all the other Australian government officials and Australian First Nations people who worked to secure this outcome over many years.

It is a reminder – people might hear me talk about the multilateral system and why the rules matter. As a country of Australia's size, and of our democratic traditions, the international framework of rules and norms, it matters deeply to us.

We are benefitted by it. That's why we fight so hard to protect it and advance it, even when that is not as easy as it was in times past.

And because of that, because of our history on this, I also take a great amount of pride in Australia's diplomats across the board, and trade negotiators. We are pretty good multilateralists. As I go around the world, I think this is something we understand, what to do and how to do it, because we have to.

I want to thank all of those who have been involved in this.

This is a significant and historic achievement, and cause for celebration.

I congratulate you all.