Press Statement: Response to Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt’s Decision Regarding Section 9 Application for Victoria Park Barrambin
Media statement: Response to Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt’s decision regarding Section 9 application for Victoria Park Barrambin
14 January 2026
Today’s decision by the Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt in response to a Section 9 application is by no means the end of the road for protecting Victoria Park Barrambin.
Section 9 is designed for emergency intervention only.
Importantly, there are still multiple separate Section 10 applications for the long-term protection of the park being considered by the Federal Government.
These involve a different legal test and a much more detailed examination of cultural heritage. That process is still underway.
Yagarabul elder and Section 10 applicant Gaja Kerry Charlton said:
“We are pro Olympics and we are pro protecting Barrambin in perpetuity.
“We welcome the opportunity to speak with the independent reporter in the evaluation of our current Section 10 application, under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act.”
Save Victoria Park spokesperson Rosemary O’Hagan added:
“The Aboriginal history of Barrambin is well documented.
“The whole park is heritage listed under Queensland state law for both its First Nations cultural significance and European history.
“The Crisafulli government knew this history when deciding to build stadiums in the park. They chose to ignore it.
“We welcome the Environment Minister’s decision to appoint an independent reporter to evaluate the applications to permanently safeguard the park.
"New Olympic state laws introduced by the LNP last year curtailed the rights of First Nations communities in Queensland. The laws truncated consultation timeframes, and removed rights under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act to seek stop work orders or injunctions to protect cultural heritage impacted by Olympic projects.
"Save Victoria Park stands firmly with our First Nations partners in their resolve to protect what is one of our city’s most important indigenous cultural sites.
ENDS