[Greens-Media] Greens Concerned SA Government Planned Heritage Act Review Will Diminish Aboriginal Rights

[Franks, Office]

The Greens' Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation spokesperson Tammy Franks today lashed out at yesterday's reported statements by Mineral Resources Minister Tom Koutsantonis at the Mining Industry Round Table that "the Aboriginal Heritage Act needed to be 'freshened up' because red tape and legal challenges by indigenous groups were delaying important mining projects".
"If recent Parliamentary vote rushed through with unseemly haste to retrospectively abolish Aboriginal Native Title renegotiation rights in the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy (Transitional Licences) Amendment Bill is any indication, the so-called review and revamp of the Aboriginal Heritage Act will simply be a stripping back of indigenous voices in these processes.

"It has been nearly four years since the Premier Jay Weatherill, then in his previous role as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation announced a review of the Aboriginal Heritage Act to better protect Aboriginal culture and heritage," Ms Franks said.

"Rather than creating better outcomes for Aboriginal people in line with the stated aims of the review regarding 'stronger recognition of Aboriginal ownership or custody of their heritage', the current push by Minister Koutsantonis appears to be doing exactly the opposite.

"I call on the Weatherill Government to make their commitment to Aboriginal rights crystal clear in light of Minister Koutsantonis' courting of the mining industry yesterday.

"If Minister Koutsantonis sees the 'freshening up' of the Aboriginal Heritage Act as an opportunity for watering further down of the rights of Native Title holders he will meet strong community and Parliamentary opposition.

"Whilst the Government acknowledged in 2008 a framework for agreement-making with Aboriginal people needed to be created, I'm disappointed if this is what they have resorted to," Ms Franks concluded.


For further comment contact Jamnes Danenberg on 0457 549 938