Just five weeks after being legislated, Roger Cook announces the WA government will be scrapping its Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Laws which he says caused ‘division’ and ‘confusion’ in the community.
Just five weeks after being legislated, Roger Cook announces the WA government will be scrapping its Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Laws which he says caused ‘division’ and ‘confusion’ in the community.
Yes. How do you think council heritage overlays and easements work?
We already have these sorts of structures, assessments processes, and limitations in place under the Crown. It’s reasonable to expect a First Nations equivalent.
An easement is listed when you buy a property. It’s detailed on the property title, and has drawings showing where it is, and who has access.
These new laws were the complete opposite - as long as the property was larger than 1100m^2, it was assumed to be of cultural significance until proven otherwise. The landowner needs to notify aboriginal people (whoever that is?), then they take their feedback to apply for a permit from the government, then the government will notify aboriginal people (again, who?) then based on their feedback will issue a permit (or not). And this same process would apply wether you’re fixing the retic in your suburban backyard, or digging a billion tonne open cut mining pit in the Pilbara.