Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Rocky path to WA’s cultural heritage laws backflip
Controversial laws designed to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage sparking anger among farmers have been scrapped a month after coming into effect.
August 8, 2023
WESTERN AUSTRALIA REPEALS CONTROVERSIAL 2021 CULTURAL HERITAGE LAWS
* Rio Tinto destroyed a 46,000-year-old Aboriginal rock shelter at Juukan Gorge in WA’s northwest in May 2020
* The incident sparked global condemnation and devastated the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people and other traditional owners
* Several Rio Tinto executives resigned following the destruction of the site, including its global chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques
* A federal inquiry recommended a major overhaul of Commonwealth Aboriginal cultural heritage protection
* Then WA premier Mark McGowan dismissed the calls for stronger federal oversight, saying the state’s revamp of its heritage legislation would make it unnecessary
* WA Labor government introduces its new Aboriginal cultural heritage laws to the state parliament in November 2021
* Indigenous groups fear more sacred sites will be destroyed after changes to ministerial powers were removed
* Pastoralists and the opposition ask for the implementation to be delayed amid a backlash from farmers and confusion within industry and government
* The legislation sailed through the lower and upper houses within two months before being introduced in July 1, 2023, replacing the 1972 laws
* About 30,000 angry farmers sign a petition for the new laws to be axed or modified
* Premier Roger Cook announces the decision on August 8 to axe month-old cultural heritage laws