Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Hanson-Young, move:

That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 8 December 2020:

The protection and preservation of First Nations heritage, with specific reference to:

a. the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters;

b. any First Nations heritage sites in Western Australia and other states and territories that are at risk of destruction;

c. the adequacy of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 in protecting and preserving First Nations heritage;

d .the adequacy of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 in protecting and conserving First Nations heritage;

e. the role of state, territory and Commonwealth governments in protecting First Nations heritage;

f. barriers to First Nations heritage and cultural protection in Australia; and

g. any related matters.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government is deeply disappointed about the destruction of Indigenous sacred sites at Juukan Gorge in Western Australia. This matter has already been referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia for inquiry, and the government will await the findings of that inquiry.

This was an action approved under section 18 of the WA Aboriginal Heritage Act. The Western Australian government has commenced a review of that act, and the Australian government is committed to ensuring that Commonwealth law provides the right protections for Indigenous cultural heritage. This is being considered through the current independent review of the EPBC Act 1999.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor will not be supporting this motion. We proposed an alternative approach to make sure that the destruction of cultural heritage, like what happened in Juukan Gorge, doesn't happen again. Our bipartisan referral to the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia can not only get to the bottom of what has occurred here but, potentially, deliver real change.

First Nations people and all Australians deserve answers about why this happened and how we can prevent it from happening again. This is 46,000 years of history and heritage; it is deeply distressing. First Nations history and culture are fundamental to our nation.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that business of the Senate motion No. 1 be agreed to.