Key First Nations stakeholder in Mid West slams State Government for heritage Bill repeal hypocrisy

A key stakeholder in Indigenous affairs in the Mid West has put the State Government in their line of fire, aiming at the $900,000 penalty disparity between disturbing an Aboriginal heritage site versus a built heritage site. Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation hosted their On Country event last Thursday, with secretary to the Premier Yaz Murabakai in attendance representing the government. At the same time Mr Murabakai was delivering his speech at the event, the Aboriginal Heritage Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2023 was being passed in the Lower House. YMAC expressed their disappointment at the mixed messaging from the State Government in wake of the tumultuous Cultural Heritage Act debacle. Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Simon Hawkins drew on the disparity between penalties for damaging an Aboriginal heritage site and a built heritage site. “The maximum penalty faced by a company in this circumstance — i.e. not a first offence — for destruction of an Aboriginal cultural heritage site is $100,000. By comparison, for built heritage, it would be $1,000,000,” he said. Mr Hawkins added the organisation was “deeply disappointed the repeal Bill has been passed in the Legislative Assembly without the State Government considering further amendments to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage”. The organisation claims the suggested changes to the Bill are modest and uncontroversial, yet were still rejected by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti. Mr Buti said the “simple and effective” legislative changes made by the Cook Government were necessary in providing a “workable legal framework” and a “common sense approach to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage.” “The Government has decided upon a practical solution following consultation with key stakeholders,” he said. The day prior, blasting for iron ore miner Rio Tinto disturbed a rock shelter of cultural importance to Pilbara traditional owners. Rio Tinto discovered the disturbance near its Nammuldi mine, about 60km from Tom Price last month during its cultural heritage monitoring. The company said in a statement that during the survey it identified the fall of a Pilbara scrub tree and a from the overhang of a rock shelter in an area adjacent to the mine site. It said it halted works and alerted traditional owners to the incident.