Hon Neil Thomson asks about the implementation date of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act and the coverage of Local Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Services (LACHS) across the state. The Minister confirms the Act's commencement date and clarifies the framework's operation in areas without established LACHS.

AnsweredQoN 409Legislative Council
Asked
30 March 2023
Portfolio
Aboriginal Affairs

QuestionView source ↗

ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE ACT
409. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the Leader of the House representing the
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
I refer to the implementation of the
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act.
(1) What date will the act be
promulgated?
(2) Is the whole
state now covered by an identifiable and established local Aboriginal cultural
heritage service; and —
(a) if there are gaps, what areas of
the state are yet to be covered by a LACHS; and
(b) how will
economic activity, which is likely to require LACHS approval, be conducted after
the promulgation date in those areas where a LACHS is yet to be established?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The act will come into effect on
1 July 2023.
(2) (a) Relevant parts of the act will shortly be
proclaimed that will enable the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Council to
designate Aboriginal organisations as LACHS where applications are received.
(b) The new
framework established by the act does not rely on the designation of LACHS as
it provides for a range of other Aboriginal parties, including prescribed
bodies corporate, to work with proponents seeking to carry out activities that
may harm Aboriginal cultural heritage.

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