New members sought to oversee new Western Australian Aboriginal cultural heritage laws

Western Australian Aboriginal Affairs Minister Dr Tony Buti has called for expressions of interest for new members to join the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Council.

Up to four new members with knowledge or experience in Aboriginal cultural heritage and skilled in engineering, land management, natural resource management, anthropology or archaeology will be added to the seven-member Council.

The new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 will take effect from 1st July 2023 introducing a modern framework for the protection and management of Aboriginal cultural heritage.

The inaugural Council was created in September 2022 and formed by a mixture of members experienced in Aboriginal cultural heritage, environment, planning, law and Government and led by male and female Aboriginal Co-Chairs, Irene Stainton and Dr Mark Bin Bakar.

The other Council members are Merle Carter, Kevin Walley, Graham Castledine, Dr Debbie Fletcher, and Belinda Moharich.

The Act allows for a total of 11 members on the Council, with majority Aboriginal membership.

Since being appointed, the Council has overseen the third and final phase of the co-design process involving consultation required by the Act of key statutory guidelines, before submission to Government for final consideration.

The functions of the Council under the new legislative framework are to:

• promote the role of Aboriginal people as the right people to speak for their country and determine activities that may cause harm to their cultural heritage;

• provide advice to the State Government and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs;

• designate local Aboriginal cultural heritage services (LACHS);

• set standards to identify, protect and manage Aboriginal cultural heritage;

• facilitate negotiations between proponents and Aboriginal parties when agreement cannot be reached; and

• promote public awareness, understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal cultural heritage in Western Australia.

To be eligible for membership, nominees must have knowledge about Aboriginal cultural heritage or have experience in matters relating to Aboriginal cultural heritage. Consideration of knowledge, skills, experience or qualifications in a range of other disciplines/fields will also be taken into account.

Nominations are open until 30th April 2023. For more information and application details, visit www.wa.gov.au/aboriginal-cultural-heritage-council