❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs regarding the Perdaman Urea Plant development's impact on Aboriginal heritage sites and alleged gag clauses preventing traditional owners from objecting. The Minister denies knowledge of the petroglyphs and gag clauses.
AnsweredQoN 921Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ABORIGINAL HERITAGE — PERDAMAN UREA PLANT —
KARRATHA
921. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister representing the
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
I refer to the ministerial statement made on 19 August 2020
by the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade on the development by
Perdaman Industries (Chemicals and Fertilisers) on the Burrup Peninsula.
(1) Is the
minister aware of four petroglyph sites in the middle of the proposed Perdaman
development, of which at least one displays cultural heritage values?
(2) Has an application been lodged under section 18 of
the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 to impact these sites?
(3) Is the minister aware that the custodians of the
area are prohibited by gag clauses in the Burrup and Maitland Industrial Estates Agreement, which was brokered
between the traditional owners and the government, from lodging any
objection to these sites being impacted?
(4) Will the minister override the Western Australian
government's gag clauses to allow the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation to comment on the impact to these sites?
(5) If no to (4), why will the minister not override these
gag clauses?
KARRATHA
921. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister representing the
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
I refer to the ministerial statement made on 19 August 2020
by the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade on the development by
Perdaman Industries (Chemicals and Fertilisers) on the Burrup Peninsula.
(1) Is the
minister aware of four petroglyph sites in the middle of the proposed Perdaman
development, of which at least one displays cultural heritage values?
(2) Has an application been lodged under section 18 of
the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 to impact these sites?
(3) Is the minister aware that the custodians of the
area are prohibited by gag clauses in the Burrup and Maitland Industrial Estates Agreement, which was brokered
between the traditional owners and the government, from lodging any
objection to these sites being impacted?
(4) Will the minister override the Western Australian
government's gag clauses to allow the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation to comment on the impact to these sites?
(5) If no to (4), why will the minister not override these
gag clauses?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) No.
(2) I have been advised that a section 18 notice has not been
lodged.
(3)–(5)
The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs is not aware of any gag clauses in the
Burrup and Maitland Industrial Estates Agreement. The contracting parties
continue to be engaged with Perdaman on the identification, management and
protection of Aboriginal heritage. It is common practice for heritage surveys
undertaken in the agreement areas to specifically seek input from contracting
parties.
question.
(1) No.
(2) I have been advised that a section 18 notice has not been
lodged.
(3)–(5)
The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs is not aware of any gag clauses in the
Burrup and Maitland Industrial Estates Agreement. The contracting parties
continue to be engaged with Perdaman on the identification, management and
protection of Aboriginal heritage. It is common practice for heritage surveys
undertaken in the agreement areas to specifically seek input from contracting
parties.
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