Australian aboriginal groups criticized Thursday the revisions done in regards to Western Australia’s heritage laws, claiming the new draft law will not protect their sites.
Aboriginal groups claim traditional lands might be destroyed by developers since they gained no veto over development projects on their lands. The groups say consultations over the new legislation were insufficient, asserting at the end of the day that the government remains the ultimate decision-maker.
“An alternate process will provide for Government consideration of these proposals”, stated the proposed Western Australia revisions, without providing further details.
Since Rio Tinto legally destroyed ancient rock shelters on indigenous lands last year, drafting amendments to new laws for green-lit development projects on heritage sites remains unconfirmed.
In reaction to the new draft, members of major Western Australian land council groups headed to Parliament House in Perth to stand against the proposals.
“This is legislation about us, being written without us,” stated Kado Muir, chair of the National Native Title Council.
“We stood on the steps of parliament today to call on the government to take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get the laws around Aboriginal cultural heritage right,” said Anthony Watson, chair of the Kimberley Land Council.
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