A WA parliamentary question addresses the protection of Burrup Peninsula rock art amidst industrial development, questioning the government's measures and the potential removal of art from its original sites. The Minister acknowledges the issue and outlines measures taken.

AnsweredQoN 1285Legislative Council
Asked
16 April 2002
Portfolio
Indigenous Affairs

QuestionView source ↗

ROCK ART
The rock art on the Burrup Peninsula has been guaranteed protection in many forms by the Western Australian Government, including the declaration of protected areas and temporary reserves. (1) What specific and tangible measures has the Government taken in the decades since the Burrup was occupied by the developers in 1964 to protect the rock art and to monitor its condition in the industrial environment the Government encouraged to develop? (2) Does the minister agree that as a result of industrial development on the Burrup Peninsula, some further removal of rock art from original sites may be required? (3) Bearing in mind that rock art becomes culturally disembodied by being removed from its site context, how does the minister reconcile his advice that further rock art will be carted away with his obligation to preserve the integrity of the rock art sites as required by the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Comprehensive surveys, site recording, salvage and consultation with indigenous people in compliance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. (2) Removal of rock art may be an option when infrastructure cannot be designed to avoid damage. (3) Salvage of rock art is regarded as a last resort and is preferable to its destruction.
(1) What specific and tangible measures has the Government taken in the decades since the Burrup was occupied by the developers in 1964 to protect the rock art and to monitor its condition in the industrial environment the Government encouraged to develop? (2) Does the minister agree that as a result of industrial development on the Burrup Peninsula, some further removal of rock art from original sites may be required? (3) Bearing in mind that rock art becomes culturally disembodied by being removed from its site context, how does the minister reconcile his advice that further rock art will be carted away with his obligation to preserve the integrity of the rock art sites as required by the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Comprehensive surveys, site recording, salvage and consultation with indigenous people in compliance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. (2) Removal of rock art may be an option when infrastructure cannot be designed to avoid damage. (3) Salvage of rock art is regarded as a last resort and is preferable to its destruction.
(2) Does the minister agree that as a result of industrial development on the Burrup Peninsula, some further removal of rock art from original sites may be required? (3) Bearing in mind that rock art becomes culturally disembodied by being removed from its site context, how does the minister reconcile his advice that further rock art will be carted away with his obligation to preserve the integrity of the rock art sites as required by the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Comprehensive surveys, site recording, salvage and consultation with indigenous people in compliance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. (2) Removal of rock art may be an option when infrastructure cannot be designed to avoid damage. (3) Salvage of rock art is regarded as a last resort and is preferable to its destruction.
(3) Bearing in mind that rock art becomes culturally disembodied by being removed from its site context, how does the minister reconcile his advice that further rock art will be carted away with his obligation to preserve the integrity of the rock art sites as required by the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Comprehensive surveys, site recording, salvage and consultation with indigenous people in compliance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. (2) Removal of rock art may be an option when infrastructure cannot be designed to avoid damage. (3) Salvage of rock art is regarded as a last resort and is preferable to its destruction.
Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Comprehensive surveys, site recording, salvage and consultation with indigenous people in compliance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. (2) Removal of rock art may be an option when infrastructure cannot be designed to avoid damage. (3) Salvage of rock art is regarded as a last resort and is preferable to its destruction.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Comprehensive surveys, site recording, salvage and consultation with indigenous people in compliance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. (2) Removal of rock art may be an option when infrastructure cannot be designed to avoid damage. (3) Salvage of rock art is regarded as a last resort and is preferable to its destruction.
(1) Comprehensive surveys, site recording, salvage and consultation with indigenous people in compliance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. (2) Removal of rock art may be an option when infrastructure cannot be designed to avoid damage. (3) Salvage of rock art is regarded as a last resort and is preferable to its destruction.
(2) Removal of rock art may be an option when infrastructure cannot be designed to avoid damage. (3) Salvage of rock art is regarded as a last resort and is preferable to its destruction.
(3) Salvage of rock art is regarded as a last resort and is preferable to its destruction.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more