MELBOURNE, Oct 19 (Reuters) - A mining industry group inWestern Australia said it opposes a proposed overhaul ofnational heritage laws that would give greater control toAboriginal landholders in the wake of the destruction of ancientsites.
A federal parliamentary inquiry into the legal destructionlast year of ancient rock shelters at Juukan Gorge, WesternAustralia, by Rio Tinto recommended on Monday thatAustralia create a new national legal framework to protectAboriginal heritage with mininum standards. But state's mining lobby, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy(CME), said the proposals would result in onerous duplicationfor its members that include BHP , Fortescue and Rio Tinto, and the state should remain the primary regulatorof cultural heritage.
"While our sector is always open to ways in which we canimprove what we do, CME and its member companies are steadfastin the view that any proposal to strengthen federal oversight onAboriginal heritage matters would not deliver improvements andwould only duplicate processes and relationships that are bestdelivered at a local level with local stakeholders," the mininggroup said in a statement released late Monday.The Western Australian government said it was proceedingwith its own new heritage legislation that it hoped to be tabledthis year, but did not indicate it would accommodate a final sayfor Aboriginal groups in decision-making.
"Better protection for Aboriginal cultural heritage willabsolutely be achieved once the new ACH Bill becomes law," WAAboriginal Affairs Minister Stephen Dawson said in a statement.
The bill leaves the final decision in heritage disputes withthe state government, although it puts more emphasis onagreement between traditional landowners and developers. Under the state's current legislation, in the decade fromJuly 2010, of more than 460 applications by miners to disturb ordestroy sites of potential cultural significance, all but onewere approved.
Western Australia supplies more than half the world's ironore and half of its lithium, and the mining industry poursbillions of dollars annually into state coffers in the form ofroyalties.
The federal inquiry's recommendations for traditionallandowners to have the final say on development decisions thatimpact heritage bolster the case of Aboriginal groups who opposeWestern Australia's heritage protection bill.
Last month a group of Aboriginal people filed a complaint tothe United Nations over the draft heritage protection.
(Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Stephen Coates)Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.