❓ Mr. Love questions the Premier about the lack of established local Aboriginal cultural heritage service providers close to the implementation of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021. The Premier defends the government's actions, highlighting existing Aboriginal corporations and engagement with traditional owners.
AnsweredQoN 361Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE ACT — IMPLEMENTATION
361. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I
refer to the introduction of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021. If this
legislation, as the minister has outlined , has been in the making for
five years, why at this point, only 10 weeks from its implementation, do we
still have no local Aboriginal cultural heritage service providers installed?
361. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I
refer to the introduction of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021. If this
legislation, as the minister has outlined , has been in the making for
five years, why at this point, only 10 weeks from its implementation, do we
still have no local Aboriginal cultural heritage service providers installed?
AnswerView source ↗
Advisedly, the Leader of the
Opposition is wrong—just wrong again. We are getting used to that fact
in this place. Once again, he seeks to
misrepresent the situation and mislead Parliament in the process. The bill, as
the Leader of the Opposition knows, went through this Parliament, both
houses, with the opposition's support, and we expect the opposition to
continue to support the principles and outcomes of it, which are to continue
the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage in the state. On 1 July, we will
see this act of Parliament come into being. It is a new law, so there are
always preparations that have to be made. Public education campaigns have been
going on. The minister has been at pains to
explain to the community the details of the legislation to make sure that we
can get over and above this scare campaign that the opposition seems to
be either leading or cheering on. Part of this process is for direct engagement
with the traditional owners, the Aboriginal heritage representatives, in each
area. Currently, there are —
Dr A.D. Buti : Forty.
Mr R.H. COOK : — 40
Aboriginal corporations registered for the purposes of being local Aboriginal
heritage corporations. In the event that they have not been stood up in this
area —
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
Dr A.D. Buti : They have made
applications.
Mr R.H. COOK : They have made
applications consistent with the time lines of implementing this legislation.
In the event that there is not a local Aboriginal heritage corporation standing
at the time the act comes in to being, it is
then up to the prescribed body corporate or native title representative body,
which have been doing this for decades . Even when I was the CEO of a native title representative body we were
doing this work, so we have been doing this for decades and will
continue to do a great job.
Opposition is wrong—just wrong again. We are getting used to that fact
in this place. Once again, he seeks to
misrepresent the situation and mislead Parliament in the process. The bill, as
the Leader of the Opposition knows, went through this Parliament, both
houses, with the opposition's support, and we expect the opposition to
continue to support the principles and outcomes of it, which are to continue
the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage in the state. On 1 July, we will
see this act of Parliament come into being. It is a new law, so there are
always preparations that have to be made. Public education campaigns have been
going on. The minister has been at pains to
explain to the community the details of the legislation to make sure that we
can get over and above this scare campaign that the opposition seems to
be either leading or cheering on. Part of this process is for direct engagement
with the traditional owners, the Aboriginal heritage representatives, in each
area. Currently, there are —
Dr A.D. Buti : Forty.
Mr R.H. COOK : — 40
Aboriginal corporations registered for the purposes of being local Aboriginal
heritage corporations. In the event that they have not been stood up in this
area —
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
Dr A.D. Buti : They have made
applications.
Mr R.H. COOK : They have made
applications consistent with the time lines of implementing this legislation.
In the event that there is not a local Aboriginal heritage corporation standing
at the time the act comes in to being, it is
then up to the prescribed body corporate or native title representative body,
which have been doing this for decades . Even when I was the CEO of a native title representative body we were
doing this work, so we have been doing this for decades and will
continue to do a great job.
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