A NEW political party is preparing to contest the next federal election on a policy platform of saving the Darling-Barka river.
Uncle Owen Whyman, a Barkindji and Malyangaba man from Wilcannia, said the Indigenous Party of Australia was nearing the final stages of formal registration and would run candidates in the Senate in a determined effort to protect the river he loves.
“The Indigenous Party of Australia came about because of the destruction of our river system,” he said.
“We’ve had several protests over the last five years, with marches on our bridge (in Wilcannia). The last one was a blockade (in 2020) to try and get some government attention, to no avail.
“We thought to ourselves, what do we do next to get some government attention? They’re destroying our river system.”
In 2019, Mr Whyman ran as an independent candidate for the closely contested seat of Barwon in the NSW election, securing 1.6 per cent of the primary vote on a platform of saving the Darling-Barka.
He said forming a party with candidates from across the country was the next step.
“We thought, ‘Well, why not be our own party and be our own voice in parliament?’” he said.
The party’s website lists seven candidates, including four Barkindji men from Wilcannia and Dareton.
The first change the party would make – if given the chance – would be to return water to the river, Mr Whyman said.
“Water was never for sale. Water is not a commodity,” he said.
To secure more water for the river, he would put a stop to floodplain harvesting.
“We want our natural flows to be coming down the river system,” he said.
“As a Barkindji man, our storyline lies within the river system. So without the water, we say ‘no Barka, no Barkindji’.”
“We can’t practise our culture … rock fishing, canoe carving … if there’s no water there.”
“This party has been coming for a very long time. It’s about time somebody stepped up and took action, not only for the Darling-Barka, but for all rivers all over Australia.”
“You’ve got the greed of the cotton (industry), of mining, and fracking – it’s destroying all of our waterways right across Australia.”
For Mr Whyman, the campaign to save the Darling-Barka River is personal.
“I’ve got many stories as a young man, of my grandmother taking me out to the river fishing.
“When I was a young boy, you used to be able to go down to the riverbank and fill your billy tin up and drink straight from the river. That’s how fresh it was.”
“These days, you wouldn’t even attempt to do it.
“It’s sad. You can look at the future of the next generation and the generations after that. What are they going to have?”
Mr Whyman said the party had sent its party registration documents to the Australian Electoral Commission in April with 700 members listed, more than the 500 required to register a party, and was waiting to receive formal approval.
Returning natural flows to the river will be “a big fight and a big challenge”, he said, “but we will be in it”.
“We’re not going to back down.”
