❓ Opposition MP Wilson Tucker questions the Minister for Environment regarding changes to the Murujuga Rock Art Stakeholder Reference Group (MRASRG) membership, specifically the removal of independent experts and perceived industry dominance. The Minister responds that the changes reflect a new phase focused on implementation, communication, and building MAC's capacity, and that scientific oversight remains with experts and MAC/DWER.
AnsweredQoN 432Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MURUJUGA
ROCK ART STAKEHOLDER REFERENCE GROUP
432. Hon WILSON TUCKER to
the minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the membership of the Murujuga rock art
stakeholder reference group.
(1) Why did
the minister remove all independent expert members from the MRASRG?
(2) Why were
the experts on rock art and its degradation removed from the MRASRG?
(3) Will the
minister identify those former members who have been removed and explain why?
(4) Why does
the MRASRG now largely represent industry stakeholders?
(5) Does the
minister believe that the terms of reference of this committee to oversee
analysis of a scientific monitoring and analysis program that will determine
whether the rock art on Murujuga is being subject to accelerated change, can be
properly evaluated by the current membership?
(6) If yes to
(5), how?
ROCK ART STAKEHOLDER REFERENCE GROUP
432. Hon WILSON TUCKER to
the minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the membership of the Murujuga rock art
stakeholder reference group.
(1) Why did
the minister remove all independent expert members from the MRASRG?
(2) Why were
the experts on rock art and its degradation removed from the MRASRG?
(3) Will the
minister identify those former members who have been removed and explain why?
(4) Why does
the MRASRG now largely represent industry stakeholders?
(5) Does the
minister believe that the terms of reference of this committee to oversee
analysis of a scientific monitoring and analysis program that will determine
whether the rock art on Murujuga is being subject to accelerated change, can be
properly evaluated by the current membership?
(6) If yes to
(5), how?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question. The question was long, so the answer is long, too. The following
answer has been provided to me by the Minister for Environment.
(1)–(4)
In preparation for the delivery phase of the program, the Department of Water
and Environmental Regulation undertook a review
of the stakeholder reference group membership and terms of reference. This included seeking the views of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and other
members to ensure the group continued to
serve its intended purpose and that MAC remained a strong voice central to all
decisions relating to Murujuga. The changes to the stakeholder reference
group also reflect that the strategy is moving
into a new phase. Although the first term supported the development of the
strategy and monitoring program, the next four years will be focused on
the transition to implementation, communication and building MAC's capacity to take over the Murujuga rock art
monitoring program. The monitoring program was designed by experts
including from Curtin University, ArtCare and ChemCentre, it is overseen by MAC
and DWER and it includes independent peer reviews by national and international
experts. All previous members of the MRASRG have been invited to continue to
participate in the group as observers. This includes state and commonwealth
government agencies, the City of Karratha, the University of Western Australia's Centre for Rock Art
Research and Management, the Pilbara Development Commission and Dr John
Black.
(5)–(6)
The terms of reference for the stakeholder reference group, which were updated
in May 2022, make it clear that the focus of the group is engagement,
communications and promotion related to the Murujuga rock art strategy. The
terms of reference also state that the scientific monitoring and analysis
program is overseen by MAC and DWER in close consultation with a team of
national and international experts in relevant disciplines.
question. The question was long, so the answer is long, too. The following
answer has been provided to me by the Minister for Environment.
(1)–(4)
In preparation for the delivery phase of the program, the Department of Water
and Environmental Regulation undertook a review
of the stakeholder reference group membership and terms of reference. This included seeking the views of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and other
members to ensure the group continued to
serve its intended purpose and that MAC remained a strong voice central to all
decisions relating to Murujuga. The changes to the stakeholder reference
group also reflect that the strategy is moving
into a new phase. Although the first term supported the development of the
strategy and monitoring program, the next four years will be focused on
the transition to implementation, communication and building MAC's capacity to take over the Murujuga rock art
monitoring program. The monitoring program was designed by experts
including from Curtin University, ArtCare and ChemCentre, it is overseen by MAC
and DWER and it includes independent peer reviews by national and international
experts. All previous members of the MRASRG have been invited to continue to
participate in the group as observers. This includes state and commonwealth
government agencies, the City of Karratha, the University of Western Australia's Centre for Rock Art
Research and Management, the Pilbara Development Commission and Dr John
Black.
(5)–(6)
The terms of reference for the stakeholder reference group, which were updated
in May 2022, make it clear that the focus of the group is engagement,
communications and promotion related to the Murujuga rock art strategy. The
terms of reference also state that the scientific monitoring and analysis
program is overseen by MAC and DWER in close consultation with a team of
national and international experts in relevant disciplines.
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