❓ Hon Neil Thomson questions the WA Government on expenditure related to the now-repealed Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act. The government provides figures for community forums and Department of Premier and Cabinet spending, while defending other expenditure as having ongoing value.
AnsweredQoN 1532Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the back-flip by the Government on the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act and regulations and the costs associated with it's development, and I ask: (a) including the cost of community forums, how much has been spent by the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage in 2022-23 including FTE and direct expenditure; and (b) how much has been spent by the Department of Premier and Cabinet in 2022-23 including FTE and direct costs?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 October 2023
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Response time
16 days
(a) $890,920 was spent on community forums across the state. Feedback from consultation and community forums has informed the Bill that passed Parliament yesterday.
Other expenditure including capacity building grants to local Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Services has ongoing value and therefore the question is based on a false premise. The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Council is proposed to continue to serve as a reconstituted Committee responsible for supporting approvals under an amended 1972 Act. The FTE approved in the budget is still required for the ongoing administration of the amended 1972 Act, including the survey program.
(b) $445,866.
Other expenditure including capacity building grants to local Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Services has ongoing value and therefore the question is based on a false premise. The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Council is proposed to continue to serve as a reconstituted Committee responsible for supporting approvals under an amended 1972 Act. The FTE approved in the budget is still required for the ongoing administration of the amended 1972 Act, including the survey program.
(b) $445,866.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.