❓ A parliamentary question on notice regarding Aboriginal heritage sites, assessments, damage complaints, and the role of anthropologists within the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. The response provides data on site assessments, damage complaints, deregistered sites, and explains changes to the Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee.
AnsweredQoN 3201Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many sites have been submitted to Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA) for assessment and were still waiting to be assessed on 24 February 2015? (2) How many complaints of site damage has DAA received in the term of this Government? (3) Will the Minister please list the date, location and alleged agent of site damage? (4) How many of these allegations were investigated by DAA? (5) If any of these allegations were not investigated by DAA, on what grounds? (6) Did DAA submit a prosecution brief to the State Solicitor's Office (SSO) relating to any of these investigations and, if so, in which cases? (7) In how many of these cases did SSO carry out a prosecution? (8) How many previously registered DAA sites have been deregistered during the term of the current Government, and will the Minster provide a list of all such sites? (9) In the term of this Government, how many previously registered mythological sites have been found not to be sites by the Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee (ACMC) on the basis that there is no evidence of ‘religious activity’ at these sites, and will the Minister list these sites? (10) On what basis did the Minister decide to remove the Specialist Anthropologist from the ACMC in the proposed AHA Amendments? (11) Will the Minister identify by name the three anthropologists currently employed by DAA and state which, if any, of them are currently on leave or secondment elsewhere?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 September 2015
Responded by
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Response time
85 days
1. As at 24 February 2015, there were 15,417 heritage places lodged with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs yet to be assessed by the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee.
2. The Department of Aboriginal Affairs has received 70 complaints of site damage in the term of this Government.
3. Yes. Refer to tabled paper. The names of the alleged agents of sites damaged are not provided due to privacy reasons.
4. The Department of Aboriginal Affairs investigated all allegations.
5. Not applicable.
6. No.
7. Not applicable.
8. In the term of this Government, 1,655 previously registered sites have changed status to Not a Site based on the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee's assessment. Refer to tabled paper.
9. In the term of this Government, there have been five previously registered sites with the criteria 'mythological' that have changed status to Not a Site on the basis that there is no evidence of 'religious activity' at these sites. Refer to tabled paper.
10. The Specialist Anthropologist role dates back to a time before native title, when determining who spoke for country was more difficult. The recognition of native title more than 20 years ago means that formalised processes are in place to establish connections to country and traditional ownership.
The
Aboriginal Heritage Amendment Bill 2014
recognises this, and that Aboriginal people are more than capable of speaking for themselves.
The administrative changes proposed will enable the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to assess and determine whether a site or object is one to which the
Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972
applies for the purpose of the Register. Officers of the Department with anthropological and archaeological expertise will continue to provide written advice to the Chief Executive Officer as they have done with the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee since the Department assumed administration of the
Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972
in 1994.
11. Ms Jane Mollan, Ms Megan McCorry and Ms Laura Gladstone work for the Department of Aboriginal Affairs' Heritage Directorate. Ms Gladstone is currently on leave.
2. The Department of Aboriginal Affairs has received 70 complaints of site damage in the term of this Government.
3. Yes. Refer to tabled paper. The names of the alleged agents of sites damaged are not provided due to privacy reasons.
4. The Department of Aboriginal Affairs investigated all allegations.
5. Not applicable.
6. No.
7. Not applicable.
8. In the term of this Government, 1,655 previously registered sites have changed status to Not a Site based on the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee's assessment. Refer to tabled paper.
9. In the term of this Government, there have been five previously registered sites with the criteria 'mythological' that have changed status to Not a Site on the basis that there is no evidence of 'religious activity' at these sites. Refer to tabled paper.
10. The Specialist Anthropologist role dates back to a time before native title, when determining who spoke for country was more difficult. The recognition of native title more than 20 years ago means that formalised processes are in place to establish connections to country and traditional ownership.
The
Aboriginal Heritage Amendment Bill 2014
recognises this, and that Aboriginal people are more than capable of speaking for themselves.
The administrative changes proposed will enable the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to assess and determine whether a site or object is one to which the
Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972
applies for the purpose of the Register. Officers of the Department with anthropological and archaeological expertise will continue to provide written advice to the Chief Executive Officer as they have done with the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee since the Department assumed administration of the
Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972
in 1994.
11. Ms Jane Mollan, Ms Megan McCorry and Ms Laura Gladstone work for the Department of Aboriginal Affairs' Heritage Directorate. Ms Gladstone is currently on leave.
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