Hon. Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs regarding alleged damage by Main Roads WA to a Nullagine River sacred site and the lack of consultation/approvals. The Minister denies damage and states the site was unrecorded until after the alleged incident.

AnsweredQoN 590Legislative Council
Asked
19 May 2015
Portfolio
Aboriginal Affairs

QuestionView source ↗

NULLAGINE RIVER SACRED BOARDS STOREHOUSE
590. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Minister
for Aboriginal Affairs:
(1) Within the
last 18 months was the Nullagine River sacred boards storehouse impacted by
Main Roads Western Australia?
(2) Was the
proposed impact by Main Roads WA referred to the Aboriginal Cultural Material
Committee via section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972?
(3) If no to (1) and/or (2), why
not?
(4) Were the traditional owners
consulted or advised of the proposed impact on this sacred site?
(5) If yes to (4), what was the
traditional owners' opinion?
(6) If no to (4), why not?
(7) Was any
action undertaken by the department or the minister with respect to the damage
by Main Roads WA to this site?
(8) If no to (7), why not?
(9) If yes to (7), what action was
undertaken?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) No.
(2) No.
(3) The
Department of Aboriginal Affairs was not aware of the Aboriginal heritage place
referred to in (1) until an allegation of disturbance was made on 20 November
2013. The Aboriginal heritage place had not been recorded in the Department of
Aboriginal Affairs' database prior to this date.
(4) No.
(5) Not applicable.
(6) The Department of Aboriginal
Affairs did not receive a section 18 application for the activity.
(7) Yes.
(8) Not applicable.
(9) The
Department of Aboriginal Affairs conducted an investigation following allegations
of disturbance to the Aboriginal heritage place. The investigation found that
there was no damage to the place.

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