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Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act: Major miners held crisis meetings on new fee system

WA’s biggest miners have held crisis meetings about the roll-out of the State Government’s incoming cultural heritage laws with serious concerns about aspects of the new system. While supportive of the ambition of the post-Juukan Gorge heritage reforms, set to come into force on July 1, some are privately troubled by the “messy implementation” and the impact on operations. One major point of contention is a cost recovery model that was announced last month, requiring land users engaging in activities that may disturb cultural heritage to pay a fee.

Cook digs in despite heritage laws mess

Premier Roger Cook continues to resist pressure to push back the start date of revamped Aboriginal heritage laws despite acknowledging fears a shambolic rollout risks torpedoing support for the Voice referendum in WA.

Farmers, property developers, miners and exploration companies have all raised concerns about the July 1 implementation of the new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, while more than 26,000 people have now signed a petition requesting a six-month delay.

HERITAGE LAWS ROLLOUT IS KEY TO ITS SUCCESS

Guidelines for implementing the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, coming into effect on July 1, are still not available, leaving West Australian farmers industry and property owners more confused than ever.
You could be forgiven for not knowing anything about the State Government’s new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, set to come into effect on July 1.It seems many didn’t. But before you dismiss it as something that doesn’t affect you, think again. It’s not just farmers, miners or industry groups affected by these changes.

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act (2023) causing angst for farmers and miners

WA LEGAL firms and mining companies have reacted to the imminent introduction of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act (2023) by staging their own information sessions and creating online resources to inform farmers, pastoralists and mining interests about the impact of the new legislation on their activities. The act comes into effect on July 1 and has far-reaching implications for farmers and pastoralists, including the likelihood of higher penalties for breaches. The Pastoralists and Graziers’ Association of WA and WAFarmers oppose the new act and say it will be costly and time-consuming for farmers.

New laws likely to ‘bring agriculture to a halt’ in State

A respected WA pastoralist says her family will have to scrap years of planned works under the new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, claiming the legislation will “bring agriculture to a halt”. The 2022 WA Rural Woman of the Year finalist said she was also concerned the legislation, while giving Aboriginal people more say in managing their cultural heritage, disregarded the multi-generational knowledge and connection to country many pastoralists have inherited. “We’ve had the place for five generations, so we are well aware of any cultural heritage on the property,” Ms Dowden told Countryman. “We would never disturb something of significance; we hold it as precious to our hearts as any Indigenous person would, and we never underestimate the value of that.

Farmers fear costly red tape could hamper tasks

Farmers fear their ability to do basic tasks like fencing or deep ripping will become tangled in costly red tape when important new legislation designed to protect WA’s Aboriginal cultural heritage takes effect next month. The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 was passed through State Parliament in late December in the wake of Rio Tinto’s infamous blasting of Juukan Gorge more than two years earlier.

Miners, farmers hit out at WA’s ‘shambolic’ new heritage laws

New Indigenous heritage laws set to come into force in Western Australia are “shambolic” and will hold up new mines and food production in the state, according to the explorers and farmers. But the government says it won’t reconsider or delay the proposal, which is due to take effect on July 1, legislated after the widely condemned destruction of the Juukan Gorge heritage site by Rio Tinto in 2020.

SANTAS IN JULY

S. Kidman & Co and the Santa Gertrudis Society for “Santas in July” at the Norman Hotel, please see promotional flyer.

Ag tycoon to help charity

“Having grown up on stations which I loved very much, stations and farms have and always will be close to my heart,” she said. “Rural Aid is an organisation that ‘stands with our mates in the bush’ during their hard times, and it does get tough in the bush, with floods, fires and severe drought, in addition to the usual dangers of snakes, spiders and in some northern areas, crocodiles too. “As patron of Rural Aid, I encourage all Australians to throw their support behind its ongoing efforts in ensuring that our food producers – our farmers – are able to get back on their feet quickly when drought, flood or bushfire hits them.”

SKY NEWS PERTH | Congratulations Mrs Rinehart, West Australian of the Year | 2023

The Front Page.

MEDIA RELEASE | Gina Rinehart announced as Rural Aid patron

Australian mining and agriculture icon Gina Rinehart has continued to throw her support behind Rural Aid, Australia’s most trusted rural charity, accepting an invitation to become Rural Aid’s patron.

Health concern sees Gina Rinehart cover her face during awards speech after she was crowned Western Australian of the year

Billionaire Gina Rinehart has issued a life-saving reminder to Australians about the need to protect themselves from the sun.Mrs Rinehart, 69, had left hospital just hours before after undergoing a minor surgery recently to remove a melanoma from her face and partially covered her bruised face behind a large white fan. ‘I should probably remind you all, please do the sun cream, do the hats and do the check-ups, please, which I didn’t do,’ she said.Mrs Rinehart accepted her award from the outgoing WA premier Mark McGowan in what was his last engagement as the state’s leader after last week announcing he was stepping down because he was ‘exhausted’.