[Greens-Media] Government sinks Aboriginal Heritage

[Ludlam, Scott (Sen R. Siewert)]

Senator Rachel Siewert

Tuesday, 8 August 2006

Government sinks Aboriginal Heritage

The Government's long awaited review of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Island Heritage Protection Act will sink without trace, said Senator
Rachel Siewert today.

"The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Heritage Protection Act is
urgently in need of review, because it is manifestly failing to protect
Aboriginal heritage in Australia."

"The Evatt Report of ten years ago found urgent review and amendments
were needed," said Senator Siewert, Greens spokesperson for Indigenous
issues. 

"The Government has been dragging its feet and then finally in the
budget the Government committed to a review. But under questioning in
the senate today I have discovered that the Government has settled for a
secret, closed-door review during which it will decide whose opinions
they will seek. It is a perfect example yet again of the way the
Government abuses its power," Senator Siewert said.

"This is supposed to be the key piece of Aboriginal Heritage protection
legislation in Australia. It has been described as "dead legislation" -
a stop-gap measure that has been waiting for twenty years for a more
considered approach. 

"While the Government drags its feet and holds secret reviews, we are
losing sites of extraordinary significance on the Burrup Peninsula in
the northwest of Western Australia." 



For more information or comment call Chris Twomey on 0407 725 025
Email senator.siewert at aph.gov.au  |  http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au