Understorey: “New” Aboriginal Heritage laws the old ones repackaged?

After the global outrage at Rio Tinto’s intentional destruction of Juukan Gorge, the state Labor government promised new Aboriginal Heritage legislation.  Indigenous cultural rights would be respected. But the “new” heritage legislation may say all the right things except where it matters: amounting to no more than the repackaging of the old rights to mining companies.  Aboriginal groups may remain effectively gagged.  Thus far the Aboriginal Affairs Minister, Stephen Dawson, has declined to meet with the environment movement to listen to these heritage concerns.  Archaeologist and heritage specialist Robin Stevens speaks frankly about how we got here, and what we need to do if our state is to genuinely support Aboriginal communities and respect and appreciate their cultural values.

Photos: supplied