ABORIGINAL HERITAGE ACT CONSULTATION CAUSES CONCERN FOR TRADITIONAL OWNERS

Thalanji Elder Trudy Hayes and Yinhawangka woman Julie Walker.

Some Pilbara Traditional Owners are unimpressed by the co-design process for the new Western Australian Aboriginal Heritage Act.

The Act was passed in December last year. A reference group was appointed to oversee a co-design process for regulation and guidelines with Aboriginal people and stakeholders.

The second phase of co-design meetings ran from July until Saturday the 6th of August at 34 locations across the state.

Thalanji Elder Trudy Hayes said she did not know about the workshop being held in Onslow until two days before the event.

“The lady from the department said they couldn’t get hold of any Thalanji people, but hell, the mining companies can find us when they want to have a meeting, so how come the government can’t find us?” Ms Hayes said.

Yinhawangka woman Julie Walker said the consultation process for the new Aboriginal Heritage Act was a failure.

“The Pilbara PBCs should call a proper bottom-up meeting with all the Ministers and Departments responsible for Aboriginal heritage, including the Department of Land and Conservation,” Ms Walker said.

“One of the issues that came up in the discussions we had is that in the previous 1972 Act there was some measure of protection for flora and fauna, but in this legislation, that’s not clear.”

She said the consultation process did not take into account that different regions have different threats. She also said the feedback given to the Juukan Gorge senate enquiry was dismissed.

 Ms Walker attended the second phase co-design meeting on the 4th of August in Port Hedland, and has concerns about the appointment of an Aboriginal Heritage Council.

“What’ll happen on a local level is that Native Title PBCs will have all their heritage functions placed in the hands of a single Aboriginal heritage service provider, appointed by the Aboriginal [Heritage] Council,” she said.

“That’s quite clear in the legislation and in those documents. The government will select the panel to select who will be on that Council. We’re told there’ll be something like 11 people appointed to the Aboriginal Heritage Council.”

Phase two submissions will close on the 19th of August 2022.