❓ Mr. Wyatt questions the Premier about the lack of Aboriginal consultation in the proposed amendments to the Aboriginal Heritage Act. The Premier acknowledges the need for amendment and addresses concerns about consultation and application backlogs.
AnsweredQoN 954Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ABORIGINAL
HERITAGE AMENDMENT BILL 2014 — DRAFT
954. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Premier:
I refer to the government's draft bill to amend the
Aboriginal Heritage Act and the petition presented to the member for Pilbara
and me by senior Aboriginal leaders from across Western Australia today. As the
petition states that ''traditional owners have been excluded from
helping develop the processes that change the way the Aboriginal Heritage Act
was administered'', will the Premier today commit to amending his
proposed changes to ensure that Aboriginal people are involved in a meaningful
way in the protection and management of their heritage?
HERITAGE AMENDMENT BILL 2014 — DRAFT
954. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Premier:
I refer to the government's draft bill to amend the
Aboriginal Heritage Act and the petition presented to the member for Pilbara
and me by senior Aboriginal leaders from across Western Australia today. As the
petition states that ''traditional owners have been excluded from
helping develop the processes that change the way the Aboriginal Heritage Act
was administered'', will the Premier today commit to amending his
proposed changes to ensure that Aboriginal people are involved in a meaningful
way in the protection and management of their heritage?
AnswerView source ↗
The Aboriginal Heritage Act is overdue for amendment. The
government is committed to protecting genuine Aboriginal heritage sites, but
there is a backlog of 16 000 to 19 000 applications, I think, in that area.
Probably 90 per cent of those applications will involve no Aboriginal heritage
at all. The minister is proposing a system that will accelerate the process of
assessing Aboriginal heritage sites. I think that is in everyone interests—rather
than having delays over approvals in areas where there are no Aboriginal
heritage sites. There has been an issue about consultation. The minister is
looking at that. The current program is that he will introduce the amendment
bill to the Aboriginal Heritage Act next week.
government is committed to protecting genuine Aboriginal heritage sites, but
there is a backlog of 16 000 to 19 000 applications, I think, in that area.
Probably 90 per cent of those applications will involve no Aboriginal heritage
at all. The minister is proposing a system that will accelerate the process of
assessing Aboriginal heritage sites. I think that is in everyone interests—rather
than having delays over approvals in areas where there are no Aboriginal
heritage sites. There has been an issue about consultation. The minister is
looking at that. The current program is that he will introduce the amendment
bill to the Aboriginal Heritage Act next week.
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