A parliamentary question regarding a new Heritage Officer position within the Department of State Development and its potential overlap with the Department of Indigenous Affairs' responsibilities under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. The response defends the necessity and clarifies the role's collaborative nature.

AnsweredQoN 5329Legislative Council
Asked
20 March 2012
Portfolio
State Development

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the advertisement that appeared on jobs.wa.gov.au site at
http://search.jobs.wa.gov.au/page.php?pageID=160&AdvertID=130355
and on the AASNet email list from Neale Draper on behalf of Victoria Jackson in relation to the Western Australian Department of State Development (DSD) seeking to recruit a Heritage Officer - Project Manager (Indigenous Engagement & Approvals) with the DSD, and ask -
(1) What role will this person provide that is not covered by the staff of the Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA)?
(2) Is this a new position?
(3) Was advice on heritage matters previously sought from the DIA?
(4) What relationship will this role have with the staff of the DIA?
(5) What is meant by the words 'ability to influence positive outcomes' in the 'job requirements' from DSD's perspective?
(6) Given that DIA administers the
Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972
which is designed to protect Aboriginal heritage, will the Project Manager (Indigenous Engagement & Approvals) not be in conflict with the DIA given the need to influence positive outcomes from the DSD's perspective?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
17 May 2012
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
58 days
Department of State Development advises:
(1) The Department of State Development, like many other agencies, requires
in-house expertise in heritage matters in order to support the volume of approvals related work generated by the amount of committed and proposed major resource projects of state significance that the Department, as a Lead Agency, is currently facilitating.
(2) Yes.
(3) Yes. The Department of State Development regularly seeks advice from the Department of Indigenous Affairs regarding Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 matters and will continue to do so as required.
(4) The Project Manager will openly collaborate with the Department of Indigenous Affairs to ensure that all information provided to the Department of Indigenous Affairs and the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee is relevant and accurate.
(5) The position will be required to develop positive working relationships with industry, the community and Traditional Owners to facilitate the timely delivery of heritage approvals work.
(6) No. The Department of State Development has always been and will remain committed to working according to the requirements of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 and fostering a positive working relationship with the Department of Indigenous Affairs.
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