❓ Hon. Tjorn Sibma asks the Attorney General about a review of Aboriginal cultural heritage protection following the introduction of new regulations and the Solicitor-General's involvement. The Attorney General confirms a review was undertaken following the Juukan Gorge disaster.
AnsweredQoN 750Legislative Council
Asked
8 August 2023
Member
Portfolio
parliamentary secretary representing the Attorney General
QuestionView source ↗
ABORIGINAL CULTURAL
HERITAGE ACT — LEGAL ADVICE
750. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Attorney General:
I refer to media reports suggesting
that in the wake of the government's shambolic introduction of
Aboriginal cultural heritage regulations that the Attorney General was ''asked
to review WA's Aboriginal cultural protection scheme, a process that
included input from Solicitor-General Joshua Thomson''.
(1) Was the Attorney General asked
to undertake such a review?
(2) If yes, by whom was the Attorney
General asked and on what date did this request occur?
(3) Was this review undertaken; and,
if so, when was it completed?
(4) To what degree did the
Solicitor-General contribute to the review?
(5) Please table a copy of the
review.
HERITAGE ACT — LEGAL ADVICE
750. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Attorney General:
I refer to media reports suggesting
that in the wake of the government's shambolic introduction of
Aboriginal cultural heritage regulations that the Attorney General was ''asked
to review WA's Aboriginal cultural protection scheme, a process that
included input from Solicitor-General Joshua Thomson''.
(1) Was the Attorney General asked
to undertake such a review?
(2) If yes, by whom was the Attorney
General asked and on what date did this request occur?
(3) Was this review undertaken; and,
if so, when was it completed?
(4) To what degree did the
Solicitor-General contribute to the review?
(5) Please table a copy of the
review.
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for some notice of the question. The following answer has been
provided to me by the Attorney General.
(1)–(5) In
his capacity as Western Australia's first law officer, the Attorney
General was asked by the Premier to do a detailed assessment of the Juukan
Gorge disaster, including the Senate's Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia inquiry and the original 1972
Aboriginal Heritage Act, to provide advice to cabinet on whether the
1972 legislation could be restored with amendments that would prevent another
Juukan Gorge incident occurring again. The Attorney General conferred with the
Solicitor-General and that advice was
provided to cabinet for its consideration. The Premier, Minister for Aboriginal
Affairs and cabinet have taken that
advice into consideration as part of the Aboriginal Heritage Legislation
Amendment and Repeal Bill 2023.
thank the member for some notice of the question. The following answer has been
provided to me by the Attorney General.
(1)–(5) In
his capacity as Western Australia's first law officer, the Attorney
General was asked by the Premier to do a detailed assessment of the Juukan
Gorge disaster, including the Senate's Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia inquiry and the original 1972
Aboriginal Heritage Act, to provide advice to cabinet on whether the
1972 legislation could be restored with amendments that would prevent another
Juukan Gorge incident occurring again. The Attorney General conferred with the
Solicitor-General and that advice was
provided to cabinet for its consideration. The Premier, Minister for Aboriginal
Affairs and cabinet have taken that
advice into consideration as part of the Aboriginal Heritage Legislation
Amendment and Repeal Bill 2023.
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