Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Hansard source

I too wish to take note of the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee report Protection of Aboriginal rock art of theBurrup Peninsula. I say at the outset that the coalition's dissenting report didn't make any recommendations, so I can only assume that they are supporting Labor's recommendations. I too attended the hearing of the committee's inquiry into the Burrup rock art, and I want to focus on the evidence of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation. I want to thank Senator Dodson for once again so beautifully describing for us that picture of the Pilbara and the spiritual link between the traditional owners, first nations people, and the land and their continuing culture. So thank you for that, Senator Dodson.

I was very concerned that the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, whilst representing five traditional owner groups, had failed to be consulted appropriately in the lead-up to this hearing—as Senator Dodson and, indeed, Senator Smith have also described—though they did finally get a say at the Perth hearing. They certainly want to see—