Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 3198

❓ The parliamentary question seeks information regarding potential conflicts of interest of the Department of Aboriginal Affair's Senior Legal Officer, their involvement in the Aboriginal Heritage Act Amendment Bill, and advice provided on related topics. The response indicates no declared conflicts and limited involvement in the Bill, but confirms advice was given on sacred sites and the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee.

AnsweredQoN 3198Legislative Council

Asked

16 June 2015

Member

Hon Robin Chapple

Portfolio

Aboriginal Affairs

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Has the Department of Aboriginal Affair’s (DAA) Senior Legal Officer declared any conflicts of interest to the department in relation to any previous employment? (2) If yes to (1), will the Minister specify which conflicts of interest were declared? (3) Did the Senior Legal Officer sign off on the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (AHA) Amendment Bill and, if so, on what date? (4) Will the Minster table this document? (5) Has the DAA Senior Legal officer provided advice to DAA or the Minister on any of the following topics since his appointment: (a) the consistency of the proposed AHA Amendment Bill with the NTA or the RDA; (b) the interpretation of a sacred site under section 5b of the AHA; and (c) the legal necessity or otherwise of a Specialist Anthropologist being a member of the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee? (6) If yes to (5), on what occasions and what advice was given?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

9 September 2015

Responded by

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

Response time

85 days

1. No.
2. Not applicable.
3. No.
4. Not applicable.
5. a. No.
b. - c. Yes.
6. On various occasions between 2012 and 2015. The advices are subject to legal professional privilege.

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