A parliamentary question addresses the Department of Indigenous Affairs' review of Aboriginal heritage sites, questioning the criteria for site assessment, stakeholder notification, and the review's purpose. The Minister's response details the assessment process based on the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, acknowledges the lack of notification to original registrants due to resource constraints, and confirms Indigenous stakeholder involvement through the ACMC.

AnsweredQoN 1315Legislative Council
Asked
14 October 2003
Portfolio
Indigenous Affairs

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to a report in the Kalgoorlie publication The Miner Newspaper on Wednesday, October 1 that the Department of Indigenous Affairs has deleted more than two-thirds of the sites of Aboriginal significance from its records. (1) What criteria did officers use to assess whether sites would remain on the register? (2) Were registrants of the original sites notified that the sites that may have been recorded or that had been recorded were being threatened? (3) Who initiated this review and will the minister corroborate his answer? (4) For what purpose did the department undertake this review? (5) Were any indigenous stakeholders advised of this review; and, if so, who? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

(1) In order to assess sites, section 5 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 was used as an assessment criteria. The minister has helpfully given me section 5 to read out, which I provide to the member in answer by tabling it. If it is determined that a site can be assessed under one or more of the criteria, it is transferred from the interim register to the permanent register. If it is deemed that, based on the information currently available for a site it cannot be assessed under the criteria, it is moved to the archive register. Further, if at the time of assessment there is insufficient information to enable the site to be entered onto either the permanent or archive register, it remains on the interim register until more detailed information can be sought. (2) No. People who originally registered the heritage sites were not notified due to a number of factors including limited resources for the project and time constraints. (3) The review process was initiated by the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (4) The review was undertaken in order to assess the large backlog of heritage locations listed on the interim register that had not been assessed and evaluated by the ACMC. This assessment process would determine whether such places were sites within the definition of section 5 of the Act. (5) Yes. Indigenous members of the ACMC were included in the assessment process. The PRESIDENT: The minister is seeking leave to table part of the answer and have it incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - __________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 5 states that the Act applies to - (a) any place of importance and significance where persons of Aboriginal descent have, or appear to have, left any object, natural or artificial, used for, or made or adapted for use for, any purpose connected with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present; (b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed. __________________________________________________________________________________________
(1) What criteria did officers use to assess whether sites would remain on the register? (2) Were registrants of the original sites notified that the sites that may have been recorded or that had been recorded were being threatened? (3) Who initiated this review and will the minister corroborate his answer? (4) For what purpose did the department undertake this review? (5) Were any indigenous stakeholders advised of this review; and, if so, who? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) In order to assess sites, section 5 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 was used as an assessment criteria. The minister has helpfully given me section 5 to read out, which I provide to the member in answer by tabling it. If it is determined that a site can be assessed under one or more of the criteria, it is transferred from the interim register to the permanent register. If it is deemed that, based on the information currently available for a site it cannot be assessed under the criteria, it is moved to the archive register. Further, if at the time of assessment there is insufficient information to enable the site to be entered onto either the permanent or archive register, it remains on the interim register until more detailed information can be sought. (2) No. People who originally registered the heritage sites were not notified due to a number of factors including limited resources for the project and time constraints. (3) The review process was initiated by the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (4) The review was undertaken in order to assess the large backlog of heritage locations listed on the interim register that had not been assessed and evaluated by the ACMC. This assessment process would determine whether such places were sites within the definition of section 5 of the Act. (5) Yes. Indigenous members of the ACMC were included in the assessment process. The PRESIDENT: The minister is seeking leave to table part of the answer and have it incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - __________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 5 states that the Act applies to - (a) any place of importance and significance where persons of Aboriginal descent have, or appear to have, left any object, natural or artificial, used for, or made or adapted for use for, any purpose connected with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present; (b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed. __________________________________________________________________________________________
(2) Were registrants of the original sites notified that the sites that may have been recorded or that had been recorded were being threatened? (3) Who initiated this review and will the minister corroborate his answer? (4) For what purpose did the department undertake this review? (5) Were any indigenous stakeholders advised of this review; and, if so, who? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) In order to assess sites, section 5 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 was used as an assessment criteria. The minister has helpfully given me section 5 to read out, which I provide to the member in answer by tabling it. If it is determined that a site can be assessed under one or more of the criteria, it is transferred from the interim register to the permanent register. If it is deemed that, based on the information currently available for a site it cannot be assessed under the criteria, it is moved to the archive register. Further, if at the time of assessment there is insufficient information to enable the site to be entered onto either the permanent or archive register, it remains on the interim register until more detailed information can be sought. (2) No. People who originally registered the heritage sites were not notified due to a number of factors including limited resources for the project and time constraints. (3) The review process was initiated by the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (4) The review was undertaken in order to assess the large backlog of heritage locations listed on the interim register that had not been assessed and evaluated by the ACMC. This assessment process would determine whether such places were sites within the definition of section 5 of the Act. (5) Yes. Indigenous members of the ACMC were included in the assessment process. The PRESIDENT: The minister is seeking leave to table part of the answer and have it incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - __________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 5 states that the Act applies to - (a) any place of importance and significance where persons of Aboriginal descent have, or appear to have, left any object, natural or artificial, used for, or made or adapted for use for, any purpose connected with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present; (b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed. __________________________________________________________________________________________
(3) Who initiated this review and will the minister corroborate his answer? (4) For what purpose did the department undertake this review? (5) Were any indigenous stakeholders advised of this review; and, if so, who? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) In order to assess sites, section 5 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 was used as an assessment criteria. The minister has helpfully given me section 5 to read out, which I provide to the member in answer by tabling it. If it is determined that a site can be assessed under one or more of the criteria, it is transferred from the interim register to the permanent register. If it is deemed that, based on the information currently available for a site it cannot be assessed under the criteria, it is moved to the archive register. Further, if at the time of assessment there is insufficient information to enable the site to be entered onto either the permanent or archive register, it remains on the interim register until more detailed information can be sought. (2) No. People who originally registered the heritage sites were not notified due to a number of factors including limited resources for the project and time constraints. (3) The review process was initiated by the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (4) The review was undertaken in order to assess the large backlog of heritage locations listed on the interim register that had not been assessed and evaluated by the ACMC. This assessment process would determine whether such places were sites within the definition of section 5 of the Act. (5) Yes. Indigenous members of the ACMC were included in the assessment process. The PRESIDENT: The minister is seeking leave to table part of the answer and have it incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - __________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 5 states that the Act applies to - (a) any place of importance and significance where persons of Aboriginal descent have, or appear to have, left any object, natural or artificial, used for, or made or adapted for use for, any purpose connected with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present; (b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed. __________________________________________________________________________________________
(4) For what purpose did the department undertake this review? (5) Were any indigenous stakeholders advised of this review; and, if so, who? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) In order to assess sites, section 5 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 was used as an assessment criteria. The minister has helpfully given me section 5 to read out, which I provide to the member in answer by tabling it. If it is determined that a site can be assessed under one or more of the criteria, it is transferred from the interim register to the permanent register. If it is deemed that, based on the information currently available for a site it cannot be assessed under the criteria, it is moved to the archive register. Further, if at the time of assessment there is insufficient information to enable the site to be entered onto either the permanent or archive register, it remains on the interim register until more detailed information can be sought. (2) No. People who originally registered the heritage sites were not notified due to a number of factors including limited resources for the project and time constraints. (3) The review process was initiated by the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (4) The review was undertaken in order to assess the large backlog of heritage locations listed on the interim register that had not been assessed and evaluated by the ACMC. This assessment process would determine whether such places were sites within the definition of section 5 of the Act. (5) Yes. Indigenous members of the ACMC were included in the assessment process. The PRESIDENT: The minister is seeking leave to table part of the answer and have it incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - __________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 5 states that the Act applies to - (a) any place of importance and significance where persons of Aboriginal descent have, or appear to have, left any object, natural or artificial, used for, or made or adapted for use for, any purpose connected with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present; (b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed. __________________________________________________________________________________________
(5) Were any indigenous stakeholders advised of this review; and, if so, who? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) In order to assess sites, section 5 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 was used as an assessment criteria. The minister has helpfully given me section 5 to read out, which I provide to the member in answer by tabling it. If it is determined that a site can be assessed under one or more of the criteria, it is transferred from the interim register to the permanent register. If it is deemed that, based on the information currently available for a site it cannot be assessed under the criteria, it is moved to the archive register. Further, if at the time of assessment there is insufficient information to enable the site to be entered onto either the permanent or archive register, it remains on the interim register until more detailed information can be sought. (2) No. People who originally registered the heritage sites were not notified due to a number of factors including limited resources for the project and time constraints. (3) The review process was initiated by the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (4) The review was undertaken in order to assess the large backlog of heritage locations listed on the interim register that had not been assessed and evaluated by the ACMC. This assessment process would determine whether such places were sites within the definition of section 5 of the Act. (5) Yes. Indigenous members of the ACMC were included in the assessment process. The PRESIDENT: The minister is seeking leave to table part of the answer and have it incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - __________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 5 states that the Act applies to - (a) any place of importance and significance where persons of Aboriginal descent have, or appear to have, left any object, natural or artificial, used for, or made or adapted for use for, any purpose connected with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present; (b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed. __________________________________________________________________________________________
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) In order to assess sites, section 5 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 was used as an assessment criteria. The minister has helpfully given me section 5 to read out, which I provide to the member in answer by tabling it. If it is determined that a site can be assessed under one or more of the criteria, it is transferred from the interim register to the permanent register. If it is deemed that, based on the information currently available for a site it cannot be assessed under the criteria, it is moved to the archive register. Further, if at the time of assessment there is insufficient information to enable the site to be entered onto either the permanent or archive register, it remains on the interim register until more detailed information can be sought. (2) No. People who originally registered the heritage sites were not notified due to a number of factors including limited resources for the project and time constraints. (3) The review process was initiated by the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (4) The review was undertaken in order to assess the large backlog of heritage locations listed on the interim register that had not been assessed and evaluated by the ACMC. This assessment process would determine whether such places were sites within the definition of section 5 of the Act. (5) Yes. Indigenous members of the ACMC were included in the assessment process. The PRESIDENT: The minister is seeking leave to table part of the answer and have it incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - __________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 5 states that the Act applies to - (a) any place of importance and significance where persons of Aboriginal descent have, or appear to have, left any object, natural or artificial, used for, or made or adapted for use for, any purpose connected with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present; (b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed. __________________________________________________________________________________________
(1) In order to assess sites, section 5 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 was used as an assessment criteria. The minister has helpfully given me section 5 to read out, which I provide to the member in answer by tabling it. If it is determined that a site can be assessed under one or more of the criteria, it is transferred from the interim register to the permanent register. If it is deemed that, based on the information currently available for a site it cannot be assessed under the criteria, it is moved to the archive register. Further, if at the time of assessment there is insufficient information to enable the site to be entered onto either the permanent or archive register, it remains on the interim register until more detailed information can be sought. (2) No. People who originally registered the heritage sites were not notified due to a number of factors including limited resources for the project and time constraints. (3) The review process was initiated by the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (4) The review was undertaken in order to assess the large backlog of heritage locations listed on the interim register that had not been assessed and evaluated by the ACMC. This assessment process would determine whether such places were sites within the definition of section 5 of the Act. (5) Yes. Indigenous members of the ACMC were included in the assessment process. The PRESIDENT: The minister is seeking leave to table part of the answer and have it incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - __________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 5 states that the Act applies to - (a) any place of importance and significance where persons of Aboriginal descent have, or appear to have, left any object, natural or artificial, used for, or made or adapted for use for, any purpose connected with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present; (b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed. __________________________________________________________________________________________
(3) The review process was initiated by the Department of Indigenous Affairs. (4) The review was undertaken in order to assess the large backlog of heritage locations listed on the interim register that had not been assessed and evaluated by the ACMC. This assessment process would determine whether such places were sites within the definition of section 5 of the Act. (5) Yes. Indigenous members of the ACMC were included in the assessment process. The PRESIDENT: The minister is seeking leave to table part of the answer and have it incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - __________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 5 states that the Act applies to - (a) any place of importance and significance where persons of Aboriginal descent have, or appear to have, left any object, natural or artificial, used for, or made or adapted for use for, any purpose connected with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present; (b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed. __________________________________________________________________________________________
(4) The review was undertaken in order to assess the large backlog of heritage locations listed on the interim register that had not been assessed and evaluated by the ACMC. This assessment process would determine whether such places were sites within the definition of section 5 of the Act. (5) Yes. Indigenous members of the ACMC were included in the assessment process. The PRESIDENT: The minister is seeking leave to table part of the answer and have it incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - __________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 5 states that the Act applies to - (a) any place of importance and significance where persons of Aboriginal descent have, or appear to have, left any object, natural or artificial, used for, or made or adapted for use for, any purpose connected with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present; (b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed. __________________________________________________________________________________________
(5) Yes. Indigenous members of the ACMC were included in the assessment process. The PRESIDENT: The minister is seeking leave to table part of the answer and have it incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - __________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 5 states that the Act applies to - (a) any place of importance and significance where persons of Aboriginal descent have, or appear to have, left any object, natural or artificial, used for, or made or adapted for use for, any purpose connected with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present; (b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed. __________________________________________________________________________________________
The PRESIDENT: The minister is seeking leave to table part of the answer and have it incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - __________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 5 states that the Act applies to - (a) any place of importance and significance where persons of Aboriginal descent have, or appear to have, left any object, natural or artificial, used for, or made or adapted for use for, any purpose connected with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present; (b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed. __________________________________________________________________________________________
Leave granted. The following material was incorporated - __________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 5 states that the Act applies to - (a) any place of importance and significance where persons of Aboriginal descent have, or appear to have, left any object, natural or artificial, used for, or made or adapted for use for, any purpose connected with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present; (b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed. __________________________________________________________________________________________
The following material was incorporated - __________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 5 states that the Act applies to - (a) any place of importance and significance where persons of Aboriginal descent have, or appear to have, left any object, natural or artificial, used for, or made or adapted for use for, any purpose connected with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present; (b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed. __________________________________________________________________________________________
Section 5 states that the Act applies to - (a) any place of importance and significance where persons of Aboriginal descent have, or appear to have, left any object, natural or artificial, used for, or made or adapted for use for, any purpose connected with the traditional cultural life of the Aboriginal people, past or present; (b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed. __________________________________________________________________________________________
(b) any sacred, ritual or ceremonial site, which is of importance and special significance to persons of Aboriginal descent; (c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed.
(c) any place which, in the opinion of the Committee, is or was associated with the Aboriginal people and which is of historical, anthropological, archaeological or ethnographical interest and should be preserved because of its importance and significance to the cultural heritage of the State; (d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed.
(d) any place where objects to which this Act applies are traditionally stored, or to which, under the provisions of this Act, such objects have been taken or removed.

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