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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.

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.

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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.

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’.

AUSTRALIAN mining and agriculture icon Gina Rinehart has again stepped up for rural Australia, this time becoming the patron of rural charity Rural Aid. Mrs Rinehart said Rural Aid was 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,” she said. “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.”