Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 185, standing in my name and the name of Senator Siewert, in the terms which I understand have been circulated in the chamber.

Leave granted.

I, and also on behalf of Senator Siewert, move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

the largest single rock art site complex, which is also the largest outdoor rock art complex in the world, is that located on the Dampier Archipelago,

(ii)

the rock art located on the Dampier Archipelago provides the most significant and intact continuous chronology of human endeavour in the world and as such identifies that the rock art and its chronology is unique and irreplaceable, and

(iii)

it is widely acknowledged that the Dampier Archipelago contains approximately 2.5 million carvings, and in the 117 km² of the Burrup Peninsula (formerly the Dampier Island) 10 000 pieces of rock art have been destroyed at a minimum with a further 2 000 remaining in the Western Australian Museum’s fenced compound; and

(b)

calls on the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities to instruct the Australian Heritage Council to do an emergency review of the outstanding universal values of the Dampier Cultural Precinct and any threats to those values.

Mr Acting Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.