❓ Mr. Rundle questions the Premier on whether community concerns regarding the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act implementation are being adequately addressed. The Premier assures that the government is actively consulting and providing information to stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition to the updated laws.
AnsweredQoN 438Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ABORIGINAL CULTURAL
HERITAGE ACT — IMPLEMENTATION
438. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Do
the concerned voices of community members, stakeholders, industry and the
Premier's own department not matter?
HERITAGE ACT — IMPLEMENTATION
438. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Do
the concerned voices of community members, stakeholders, industry and the
Premier's own department not matter?
AnswerView source ↗
Absolutely they matter, which is why
the government has been at pains to ensure that we work closely with the
community to answer their questions, to help them understand their obligations
and the ways in which the updated laws will apply, and to make sure they have
all the information they need. That is why we have been holding community
forums right across the state. The department is sitting, almost around the
clock, talking to different industry groups and representatives of those
industry groups to make sure we continue to provide information and work
collaboratively, cooperatively and in an educated manner to bring these laws
into play.
As I have said, these laws are an
update of 50-year-old laws that have been in place since 1972, so it is time
for us to implement a modern framework for these laws. They are not everyone's
cup of tea; there have been criticisms from the Aboriginal community and the
farming community and there have been concerns voiced everywhere, but we have
the balance right. These laws are in place and they are ready to go, and that
is why we are committing to the 1 July start
date. The member makes the comment that somehow everything is not in place; it
is. There is one set of guidelines on which we are continuing to consult
with industry, and with a good week and a half to go, we are keen to make sure we
take every opportunity to undertake that consultation and make sure that
everyone is comfortable and ready to go.
I
understand that whenever laws are updated and people are brought into a modern
legal framework, it raises questions in people's minds and
sometimes creates some degree of anxiety, but we are working closely with the
community and all industry groups to make
sure that they understand their obligations—obligations that have been
in place for 50 years, and now that we have modernised these laws they
will continue to be in place, but will be simpler and fairer and will
acknowledge that like-for-like activity will continue to be allowed.
the government has been at pains to ensure that we work closely with the
community to answer their questions, to help them understand their obligations
and the ways in which the updated laws will apply, and to make sure they have
all the information they need. That is why we have been holding community
forums right across the state. The department is sitting, almost around the
clock, talking to different industry groups and representatives of those
industry groups to make sure we continue to provide information and work
collaboratively, cooperatively and in an educated manner to bring these laws
into play.
As I have said, these laws are an
update of 50-year-old laws that have been in place since 1972, so it is time
for us to implement a modern framework for these laws. They are not everyone's
cup of tea; there have been criticisms from the Aboriginal community and the
farming community and there have been concerns voiced everywhere, but we have
the balance right. These laws are in place and they are ready to go, and that
is why we are committing to the 1 July start
date. The member makes the comment that somehow everything is not in place; it
is. There is one set of guidelines on which we are continuing to consult
with industry, and with a good week and a half to go, we are keen to make sure we
take every opportunity to undertake that consultation and make sure that
everyone is comfortable and ready to go.
I
understand that whenever laws are updated and people are brought into a modern
legal framework, it raises questions in people's minds and
sometimes creates some degree of anxiety, but we are working closely with the
community and all industry groups to make
sure that they understand their obligations—obligations that have been
in place for 50 years, and now that we have modernised these laws they
will continue to be in place, but will be simpler and fairer and will
acknowledge that like-for-like activity will continue to be allowed.
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