Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to support the very sensible motion that has been put forward by Senator Brockman. I just want to read what it is so that those following the debate understand it. We have the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act in Western Australia. As it says here in the motion, the federal Labor government has a commitment to implement cultural heritage laws similar to the WA Labor government's Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act. That has caused confusion, uncertainty and disruption across every part of society, particularly local government, agriculture and mining. This is absolutely true. What you see right now in Western Australia is confusion, uncertainty and disruption across every part of society, particularly those operating in the agricultural area. I know that my good friend Senator Brockman—who has generations of experience through his family and through his work as a senator working across the agricultural sector—knows full well. As he outlined in his contribution, he's been at several events across the state where these issues have been raised.

Senator Payman came in here and said that this is all about scaremongering around the Voice. This motion doesn't mention the Voice. There is actually no conflation here. In fact, the only one that is conflating this motion and this act with the Voice is in fact the architect of that act and Premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook. Roger Cook said:

Our Aboriginal cultural heritage laws do the same thing as the Voice.

So the only one that is conflating this issue with the Voice is in fact the Premier of Western Australia. It is the Premier of Western Australia, Roger Cook, that is conflating this issue with the Voice.

The federal government have an opportunity to deal with this issue of uncertainty that has been created by their colleagues over in Western Australia and put it to bed. They could rule out implementing laws that are similar to what is happening in Western Australia and having them apply right across the country. They could rule that out. It is probably not in my party's interest to give political advice that would help the government, but in this case I will because it is important for the future of this country that they provide some certainty for landowners, mining companies, those involved in agriculture and those involved in development. Provide some certainty. Rule out implementing the kind of shambolic legislation that we have operating right now in Western Australia, because it is diabolical. It is diabolical legislation that was rushed through the parliament. That's what happens when you have a parliament that is just so controlled. When there are no checks and balance, that is what happens: you rush through legislation. It is very, very poorly drafted. It's an extremely poor piece of legislation. That's why we are in this situation. The government has an opportunity. There were questions asked in question time where the senator representing the Prime Minister here in this chamber, Senator Wong, had the opportunity to rule it out. She could have ruled it out on the two sets of questions she was asked, but she did not.

We have a terrible situation operating in Western Australia, where there is great uncertainty. Unfortunately, it's undermining the very important issue of protecting significant Indigenous cultural sites. I was up in the Pilbara during the break that we have just had. I had a bit of business there, some work as a senator, but also had some time with my family. I went to some art sites, beautiful places that all Australians want to see protected. My family got to enjoy that. My family were welcomed by the Banyjima people, who proudly display these sites and allow people to go and visit them. Of course, this issue needs to be dealt with. Of course, Australians want to see these sites protected. But what we are seeing is that this legislation is undermining what all Australians want to see, which is the protection of cultural heritage. We are undermining it through poorly drafted legislation that this government here could rule out implementing across the country. (Time expired)