Tomorrow, the inquiry into the destruction of Indigenous heritage sites at Juukan Gorge will be looking at Indigenous heritage protection in the Northern Territory, with a public hearing by videoconference.
Northern Australia Committee Chair Warren Entsch noted that heritage protections in the Northern Territory were some of the strongest in Australia, though this did not always lead to successful outcomes.
‘The Committee is aware of concerns raised by Traditional Owners about the expansion of the McArthur River mine and the threat this poses to sacred waterholes,’ Mr Entsch said.
‘It is important that the protections offered under heritage legislation can’t simply be circumvented by recourse to other laws.’
In its submission, the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority observed that, ‘the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1989 (NT), which stems from the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth) (Land Rights Act), presents a model that should be adopted nationally and in all States and Territories. Importantly the Northern Territory framework encompasses the principles of free prior and informed consent.’
The Central Land Council also highlighted the success of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, but argued that, ‘there is need for other legislation to give Traditional Owners protection on land where free, prior and informed consent to development is not afforded, including on land subject to native title.’
The Central Land Council recommended improvements to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984, ‘so that it can be an effective measure of last resort for Indigenous people throughout Australia, and can set minimum standards for State and Territory legislation.’
Other witnesses include archaeologist Ms Karen Martin-Stone, GetUp, the National Environmental Law Association and Australia ICOMOS.
A program for the public hearing is available on the Committee’s website.
Public hearing details
Date: Tuesday, 2 March 2021
Time: 9:00am to 4:00pm AEDT
Location: by video/teleconference
The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.
Further details of the inquiry, including terms of reference, can be found on the Committee’s website.
Media inquiries
Hon Warren Entsch MP, Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia
warren.entsch.mp@aph.gov.au
07 4051 2220
For background information
Committee Secretariat
jscna@aph.gov.au
02 6277 4162
For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.
