Indymedia on RTRFM – 9 August 2021 rtrfm.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rtrfm.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS TIMES
Western Australian Aboriginal Affairs Minister Stephen Dawson has said new Aboriginal cultural heritage legislation will look to repeal the controversial
Aboriginal Heritage (Marandoo) Act 1992 (WA), despite saying earlier in the week the Act’s future was “yet to be determined”.
Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA), was still being considered among other amendments to the new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill.
“The draft Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill proposes the repeal of the Aboriginal Heritage (Marandoo) Act 1992,” Minister Dawson said.
“The State Government has been in discussion with Rio Tinto and Traditional Owners about this matter.”
WGAC made a submission to the Juukan Gorge inquiry on Friday publicising allegations of deliberate cultural heritage destruction by Rio Tinto prior to Juukan Gorge.
WA rules out veto power for traditional owners
Save
Share
Western Australiaâs Labor government has ruled out giving traditional owners the power to veto mining activity, despite Indigenous leaders renewing calls for such power on the anniversary of Rio Tinto destroying Juukan Gorge.
The impasse over veto powers threatens to derail WAâs long-awaited introduction of new Aboriginal heritage legislation to replace the 50-year-old laws that Rio used to gain government approval to blast Juukan Gorge last May.
WA Aboriginal Affairs Minister Stephen Dawson discussed the veto powers with the stateâs biggest native title groups last week.
Â
Peter de Kruijff
Abstract
This article examines the extent to which a recent law reform initiative in New South Wales (NSW), Australia - the draft Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill 2018 (NSW) - advances the general principles outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The examination reveals some improvements on the current legal framework and some concerning proposals that distance the NSW government from the UNDRIP principles. Key concerns include a proposed transfer of administrative responsibility to Aboriginal bodies with no corresponding guarantee of funding; the continued vesting of key decision-making powers in government; inept provisions for the protection of secret knowledge; and lower penalties for harming cultural heritage than for related offences in existing environmental and planning legislation. Given the bill s weaknesses, the article explores pragmatic alternatives to better advance the UNDRIP principles.
Lack of prosecution for destruction of mythical serpentâs tail angers Kimberley traditional owners
Weâre sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later.
Dismiss
Save
Normal text size
Advertisement
Traditional owners in the Kimberley are incensed the West Australian government has decided not to pursue a case against a granite mining company which allegedly damaged Aboriginal heritage sites including a landmark representing the rainbow serpent.
Kimberley Granite Holdings was accused last year of partially destroying one of three granite outcrops that represent the Jawaren, or âSerpent Dreamingâ, site about 50 kilometres north of Halls Creek on Kija country at Springvale Station.