Hon. Neil Thomson questions the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs regarding the interaction between Noongar standard heritage agreements and the new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, particularly concerning potential impacts on businesses. The Minister's response clarifies the applicability of the agreements and compliance requirements.

AnsweredQoN 492Legislative Council
Asked
11 May 2023
Portfolio
Aboriginal Affairs

QuestionView source ↗

ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE ACT
492. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the Leader of the House representing the
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
I
refer to the answer to question without notice 437, asked on 9 May 2023,
concerning the template Noongar standard heritage agreements.
(1) How many standard heritage
agreements exist?
(2) How many business operations
could be affected?
(3) Is it
possible that businesses covered by standard heritage agreements will need to
lodge separate applications under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act from 1 July?
(4) Has the state contacted the
potentially affected businesses specifically regarding this matter?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) Under the south west settlement, the Noongar
standard heritage agreement is required for government land users,
whereas tenement holders and other land users are not legally bound to use the
Noongar standard heritage agreement. The government is not party to individual
agreements between Indigenous land use agreement groups and other land users,
and it does not have copies of those agreements.
(2) See response to part (1).
(3) Businesses
will need to comply with both the agreed processes of their standard heritage
agreement and the requirements of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act.
(4) No. See response to part (1).

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