❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs regarding the destruction of Juukan Gorge caves, specifically the communication between the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) and the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) people. The Minister provides details of a meeting between DPLH and PKKP advisers.
AnsweredQoN 541Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
JUUKAN GORGE CAVES
541. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister representing the
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
I refer to the recent destruction of the Juukan Gorge caves,
and note that the minister learnt of the event a few days after it occurred,
which was reported on Radio National's RN Breakfast program with Fran Kelly.
(1) What time
on 19 May 2020, and by what methods, was the Department of Planning, Lands and
Heritage contacted by the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people or their
representatives?
(2) Who—their
position within DPLH—was in attendance for the communications referred
to in (1)?
(3) What was the
communication referred to in (1) about, and did the department record the
meeting?
(4) What action
did the attendees to the meeting referred to in (1) take in response to the
communications with PKKP?
(5) Is it
standard practice for DPLH to act autonomously of the minister by not informing
the minister of details relating to communications?
541. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister representing the
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
I refer to the recent destruction of the Juukan Gorge caves,
and note that the minister learnt of the event a few days after it occurred,
which was reported on Radio National's RN Breakfast program with Fran Kelly.
(1) What time
on 19 May 2020, and by what methods, was the Department of Planning, Lands and
Heritage contacted by the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people or their
representatives?
(2) Who—their
position within DPLH—was in attendance for the communications referred
to in (1)?
(3) What was the
communication referred to in (1) about, and did the department record the
meeting?
(4) What action
did the attendees to the meeting referred to in (1) take in response to the
communications with PKKP?
(5) Is it
standard practice for DPLH to act autonomously of the minister by not informing
the minister of details relating to communications?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by
the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.
(1) Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage
representatives met with advisers to the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and
Pinikura native title group via Teams at 2.00 pm on 19 May 2020. No PKKP
traditional owners were present at the meeting. The meeting was on an unrelated
matter. Shortly before the meeting, department staff were informed by the advisers that they wished to also discuss a matter
relating to the Brockman mine.
(2) The director
and the team leader of Aboriginal heritage operations participated in the
meeting.
(3) At the end of the meeting on 19 May 2020, the
advisers to PKKP sought confirmation of their understanding of the section 18 consent issued for the Brockman
mine in 2013, and sought confirmation that such consents cannot be revoked. Department officers confirmed
that that was the case. Some notes of the meeting were recorded.
(4) The
department is aware that Rio Tinto has an established agreement with PKKP.
Subsequent to the meeting, the department
contacted Rio Tinto to ensure that it was aware of the meeting with PKKP
advisers.
(5) The
department regularly meets with traditional owner representatives and
proponents in undertaking its responsibilities in relation to the Aboriginal
Heritage Act 1972 and Aboriginal heritage more broadly.
some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by
the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.
(1) Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage
representatives met with advisers to the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and
Pinikura native title group via Teams at 2.00 pm on 19 May 2020. No PKKP
traditional owners were present at the meeting. The meeting was on an unrelated
matter. Shortly before the meeting, department staff were informed by the advisers that they wished to also discuss a matter
relating to the Brockman mine.
(2) The director
and the team leader of Aboriginal heritage operations participated in the
meeting.
(3) At the end of the meeting on 19 May 2020, the
advisers to PKKP sought confirmation of their understanding of the section 18 consent issued for the Brockman
mine in 2013, and sought confirmation that such consents cannot be revoked. Department officers confirmed
that that was the case. Some notes of the meeting were recorded.
(4) The
department is aware that Rio Tinto has an established agreement with PKKP.
Subsequent to the meeting, the department
contacted Rio Tinto to ensure that it was aware of the meeting with PKKP
advisers.
(5) The
department regularly meets with traditional owner representatives and
proponents in undertaking its responsibilities in relation to the Aboriginal
Heritage Act 1972 and Aboriginal heritage more broadly.
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