Project assessment in Australian Indigenous domains: the case for reform

In this article the experience of Australian indigenous communities with project assessment is considered. Project assessments carried out under Environmental Impact Assessment legislation for resource development proposals and for economic development projects designed to improve the economic self-sufficiency of indigenous communities are examined. The article argues that project assessments in indigenous domains poorly accommodate indigenous cultural perspectives, precipitating substantial social impact. The authors suggest that the need for reform is compelling. They argue that there is a need to improve the technical competence of practitioners working in cross-cultural contexts. In addition, reference to recent theoretical developments in planning suggests that reform of project assessment must recognise the social and political context of planning. In particular, this highlights the importance of effective participation by indigenous communities to ensure that assessments meet local as well as other needs