❓ Mr. Love questions the approval process of Section 18 applications under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, focusing on timelines, ministerial decisions, and Indigenous support. The Minister provides data on approvals, timeframes, and reasons for discrepancies.
AnsweredQoN 1672Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many applications under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 Section 18 “Application for Consent to Use Land for a Purpose that May Impact an Aboriginal Site” were approved in the 2025 calendar year ? (2) How many were approved by Hon Don Punch MLA? (3) How long did the Section 18s take to be approved? (4) What is the average timeframe of Section 18s in the 2024-25 Financial Year? (5) How many Sections 18s were applied for? (6) Did every single Section 18 receive written support of the indigenous group? (7) Why is there a difference in the number applied for and approved?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 February 2026
Responded by
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Response time
1 days
(1) 49
(2) 37
(3) All section 18 notices that have received consent in 2025 were within the statutory timeframes set out in the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (AHA).
(4) Of the section 18 decisions in 2024-25, 98.4 per cent were within the statutory timeframes set out in the AHA.
(5) As at 19 December 2025, 48 section 18 notices had been submitted in 2025.
(6) No.
(7) The difference between the number applied for and approved is due to applications:
(a) being submitted in 2024 but receiving consent in 2025;
(b) being declined by the Minister; and
(c) being submitted in 2025 and the statutory timeframe extending into 2026.
(2) 37
(3) All section 18 notices that have received consent in 2025 were within the statutory timeframes set out in the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (AHA).
(4) Of the section 18 decisions in 2024-25, 98.4 per cent were within the statutory timeframes set out in the AHA.
(5) As at 19 December 2025, 48 section 18 notices had been submitted in 2025.
(6) No.
(7) The difference between the number applied for and approved is due to applications:
(a) being submitted in 2024 but receiving consent in 2025;
(b) being declined by the Minister; and
(c) being submitted in 2025 and the statutory timeframe extending into 2026.
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