KADO MUIR ON HERITAGE PROTECTION

National Native Title chair and Ngalia man Kado Muir says the new WA Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act is racially discriminatory and fails to protect important cultural places, language and dance.

“It’s just a legislation for removing ‘black tape’ which is for develoment approvals,” he said.

Mr Muir said he was hopeful that new Federal legislation would afford more protection.

“There’s a great opportunity to bring in cultural heritage legislation that sets a national standard and a national bench mark,” he said.

“And also look at other stuff so it’s not always about destroying Aboriginal sites for defelopment. But it’s time there was investment in our culture so we can speak our languages and practise our traditions as well.”