The West Australian
Authorities will use a “light touch” approach to enforcing updated Aboriginal heritage laws for the next year while a cross-sector “implementation group” has been formed to iron out any major issues.
The measures announced Thursday — just two days before the new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act comes into effect — were immediately seized upon by Liberal leader Libby Mettam as a concession from the Government that the rollout of the overhauled legislation had been “completely botched”.
“This has been a complete mess from the start,” she said.
“The Opposition, again, urges the Cook Government to put a pause on these regulations which will most impact our landowners, local governments, pastoralists, graziers, and explorers.”
Premier Roger Cook strongly denied the formation of an implementation group and year-long “educative” compliance regime represented any kind of back down.
To read the article in full, including comments from UDIA WA CEO Tanya Steinbeck, click here.