❓ A parliamentary question seeks information on the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions' (DBCA) processes for managing potential impacts of prescribed burning on Aboriginal cultural heritage. The Minister acknowledges potential impacts and the use of Section 18 approvals, but declines to table the approvals due to resource constraints, offering a briefing instead.
AnsweredQoN 1458Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Does the Department consider that prescribed burning activities cause impacts to cultural heritage sites or values? (2) Does the Department seek approvals under the Aboriginal Heritage Act for such impacts: (a) if not, why not? (3) If yes to (2), can the Minister please table any section 18 approvals held by the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions for prescribed burning or other management activities: (a) if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 August 2023
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment
Response time
14 days
(1) The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) is aware that some activities associated with prescribed burning have the potential to impact cultural heritage sites or values.
(2) Where an intended activity may be in breach of Section 17 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, DBCA will seek a Section 18 approval.
(3) DBCA does not have a central repository for such approvals, which are coordinated by various areas of the agency (e.g. regions, districts, branches and statutory authorities). Given the level of agency resourcing required to source and provide the requested information, it is not considered to be a reasonable use of government resources. I am happy to arrange a briefing by DBCA for the Honourable Member to explain DBCA’s consideration of cultural heritage sites and values in the prescribed burning planning process and for other management activities.
(2) Where an intended activity may be in breach of Section 17 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, DBCA will seek a Section 18 approval.
(3) DBCA does not have a central repository for such approvals, which are coordinated by various areas of the agency (e.g. regions, districts, branches and statutory authorities). Given the level of agency resourcing required to source and provide the requested information, it is not considered to be a reasonable use of government resources. I am happy to arrange a briefing by DBCA for the Honourable Member to explain DBCA’s consideration of cultural heritage sites and values in the prescribed burning planning process and for other management activities.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.