Article by Josh Zimmerman and Rebecca Le May.
Premier Roger Cook is prepared “to make changes where (Aboriginal heritage laws) need to change” in the clearest sign yet momentum is building for an overhaul of the controversial legislation.
The statement — delivered by the Premier in Port Hedland on Wednesday — was echoed by Finance Minister Sue Ellery, who said the Government was open to modifying regulations governing the Act “immediately” if major issues were identified.
There has been a marked change in tone from the Cook Government in recent days after weeks of sustained and heated criticism of the refreshed Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act.
With shock polling by Utting Research finding the WA Liberals had surged ahead of Labor for the first time in more than six years — partly as a result of widespread anger over the heritage laws — the Government now appears on the cusp of meaningful concessions.
On Tuesday, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti said he was “not ruling anything in or out” and that “if there needs to be change, (the laws) will be changed”.
Ms Ellery said yesterday the “key point” was that a crosssector implementation group had been created and was working to identify any problems arising from the Act. “They’ll report back to Minister (Tony) Buti and as he said yesterday, if he needs to make immediate changes he’ll do that,” she said.
Mr Cook said he was “simply getting on with the job of making sure we work collaboratively with the community . . . so that people understand their obligations under the laws”.
“But also making sure that we can make changes where those laws need to change,” he added.
One of the members of the implementation group — the WA Local Government Association — wants any planned concessions to be announced “sooner rather than later” as councils grapple with widespread confusion about their obligations under the Act.
Difficulty deciphering the three-tier activity system, identifying and then completing the necessary consultation with Aboriginal groups and the cost associated with heritage surveys were all nominated as issues of concern by WALGA president Karen Chappel.
“The minister has come out this week and said if changes need to take place they will take place,” Ms Chappel said.
“Well, I think what would be really encouraging is if it’s acknowledged that a change has to take place, that those changes take place sooner rather than later.
We don’t want to wait 12 months to go ‘That didn’t work’.
“Let’s change it now. Let’s acknowledge that some of these things may not be working as they should and change them immediately.”
