The Indigenous Peoples Organisation-Australia (IPO) is a national coalition of more than 300 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak bodies, community organisations and individual members across Australia. The IPO was established to promote the rights of Indigenous Peoples at the national, regional and international levels and to facilitate constructive and collaborative participation of Indigenous peoples at the United Nations.  The IPO is a voluntary body directed by its national executive and is committed to the enactment of internationally recognised Indigenous rights within Australia.  The IPO draws on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007), the Outcome Document of the World Indigenous Conference (2014), both endorsed by Australia, and the International Labour Organization Convention, ILO 169, and the ILO Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, (1989), which the Australian Government is yet to endorse.

Background to the IPO

The Indigenous Peoples’ Organisation-Australia (IPO) was originally established in 2006 following the abolition of the, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) by the Howard Liberal-National Coalition (LNP) Government in 2005.  As part of this process ATSIC’s funding was allocated to mainstream government agencies, with $100,000 annual funding provided to the Australian Human Rights Commission to administer grant funding for the Indigenous Peoples’ Organisation.  This funding was allocated through a series of small grants to enable Indigenous delegates to attend relevant United Nations forums, through competitive merit selection.

However, in 2014, the Abbott LNP Government cut the funding to the Australian Human Rights Commission for the IPO, taking effect in 2015.  Members of the IPO believed the cut in funding was a bid to silence Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices in international fora.  Rather than be silenced, the IPO members re-established the IPO in March 2016 as a voluntary national Indigenous members-driven body. Since then, the IPO has adopted a constitution and established a strong national executive providing direction and accountability back to the membership.

Work of the IPO

Since its formation the IPO has supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander attendance at United Nations mechanisms and has led Australian First Nation delegations. The IPO also raises funds to enable Indigenous participation and provides advice on drafting interventions, information on sessions, logistics advice and hosts Side Events.

At the national level the IPO has written numerous submissions and reports, including to Australian Parliamentary Inquiries and has as a result been invited to present to inquiries.

The IPO Co-Chair, Cathy Eatock, is also the elected Pacific representative to the Facilitative Working Group (FWG) of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Conference of the Parties (COP) 2022-2025.  The position requires Indigenous advocacy and coordination across the Pacific region and working with Indigenous and United Nations processes globally.

The IPO’s “Pay The Rent” Campaign 

Pay the Rent was first conceived in the 1970’s by the National Aboriginal and Islander Health Organisation (NAIHO) in Fitzroy. Pay the Rent has been described as, “a voluntary scheme where willing Australians pay a small percentage of their income to a body led by Indigenous elders – one that is genuinely controlled by the Aboriginal community, without government interference.”

One contributor puts it this way “I Pay Rent to acknowledge that I benefit from the dispossession of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to support their struggle for justice, land rights and self-determination.”

There are regular articles on the concept including those on NITV/SBS, BuzzFeed News, The Medium.

An annual financial report outlining the use of expenditure will be provided to all financial contributors. Contributing organisations may also choose to have their logo displayed on the IPO’s website.

Oxfam is contributing as a partner body to the IPO and are currently supporting the revision of our website.

‘Pay the Rent’ Initiative

IPO’s ABN: 835 168 013 23

The IPO is a registered Charity CAS-1052238-C5W3Z1 & is currently applying for tax deductible gift status.

Contributions, either individual or regular small payments, can be paid to the following IPO account or via PayPal.
Account Name: The Indigenous People’s Organisation
BSB: 062 172
Account: 10476725
Donor’s name (optional):
Email (To receive the financial report and receipts – optional):