Latest news with #SacredSitesAct
The Age
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
After six difficult years, spectacular Aussie swimming spot to reopen
It's a top time to be in the Top End. One of Kakadu's most popular natural attractions, Gunlom Falls, is set to reopen, just as soon as the conditions are right. This concludes a difficult six years during which the Traditional Owners closed the falls to visitors due to the disturbance of a sacred men's site by Parks Australia while building a walkway. The parties ended up in court, with the end result being a $200,000 fine for Parks Australia, the largest penalty ever under the Northern Territory's Sacred Sites Act. But now, Traditional Owners from the Gunlom Aboriginal Land Trust have given approval for Parks Australia to reopen Gunlom. There's been a lag between that happening and the actual opening while Parks Australia ensures the safety of the site, particularly as water levels remain high following late seasonal rain. Meanwhile, roadworks, crocodile surveys and general maintenance of campgrounds, walking tracks and amenities have been underway. Parks is working towards Gunlom opening in late May following final safety checks. Traditional Owners will be given greater say about their Country in Kakadu under a new, first of its kind partnership agreement between the Northern Land Council and the Australian government. Under the new agreement, Kakadu's Traditional Owners will be better supported to live and work on Country and will contribute to their own economic development fund. This will support projects such as housing and infrastructure improvements as well as business and employment opportunities.
Sydney Morning Herald
18-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
After six difficult years, spectacular Aussie swimming spot to reopen
It's a top time to be in the Top End. One of Kakadu's most popular natural attractions, Gunlom Falls, is set to reopen, just as soon as the conditions are right. This concludes a difficult six years during which the Traditional Owners closed the falls to visitors due to the disturbance of a sacred men's site by Parks Australia while building a walkway. The parties ended up in court, with the end result being a $200,000 fine for Parks Australia, the largest penalty ever under the Northern Territory's Sacred Sites Act. But now, Traditional Owners from the Gunlom Aboriginal Land Trust have given approval for Parks Australia to reopen Gunlom. There's been a lag between that happening and the actual opening while Parks Australia ensures the safety of the site, particularly as water levels remain high following late seasonal rain. Meanwhile, roadworks, crocodile surveys and general maintenance of campgrounds, walking tracks and amenities have been underway. Parks is working towards Gunlom opening in late May following final safety checks. Traditional Owners will be given greater say about their Country in Kakadu under a new, first of its kind partnership agreement between the Northern Land Council and the Australian government. Under the new agreement, Kakadu's Traditional Owners will be better supported to live and work on Country and will contribute to their own economic development fund. This will support projects such as housing and infrastructure improvements as well as business and employment opportunities.
West Australian
16-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
'Missed opportunity' as sacred sites legislation passes
The passing of amendments to sacred sites legislation is a missed opportunity, Traditional Owners say as they raise concerns about consultation on the changes. The Northern Territory government passed the Sacred Sites Act amendments overnight, which it says will simplify and streamline the approval process for development. The changes allow for the transfer of certificates issued by the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority and include the introduction of an enforceable undertakings regime to remediate damages to sacred sites, rather than prosecution through a court process. "The cultural authority of custodians remains central, and the amendments will provide much needed clarity and simpler, streamlined approval processes, while ensuring the protection of sacred sites remains paramount," NT Lands, Planning and Environment Minister Joshua Burgoyne said. But the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority board has raised concern about the legislation's consultation process, which it says has not been adequate. "The Sacred Sites Act is meant to protect Aboriginal sacred sites, but Aboriginal people and their representative organisations have not been consulted on these changes," chair Bobby Nunggumajbarr said. "I am also disappointed that industry and the wider public have not been consulted." Mr Nunggumajbarr said the authority wants laws that provide developers with a clear framework, while giving certainty to the community that sacred sites will be protected. He said the NT government has missed an opportunity to modernise and strengthen the Act. "The fact is, the board is worried that the amendments do not have Aboriginal consultation at their heart," Mr Nunggumajbarr said. "These changes have been quickly drafted without a good understanding of the importance of sacred sites to the NT community, and they increase the potential for disputes and legal challenges." The Central Land Council has also raised concerns about consultation on the amendments. Following a meeting with Mr Burgoyne in March, land council chair Warren Williams said he had been met with "empty talk". In correspondence to Mr Burgoyne on Wednesday, ahead of the amendments passing, Mr Williams told the minister he was missing a chance to make sacred sites legislation stronger for everyone by not speaking with the territory's land councils. "You have heard our delegates speak from the heart about how important sacred sites are to our people and the stress and suffering we experience when they are damaged or at risk of harm," the letter said.
Perth Now
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
'Missed opportunity' as sacred sites legislation passes
The passing of amendments to sacred sites legislation is a missed opportunity, Traditional Owners say as they raise concerns about consultation on the changes. The Northern Territory government passed the Sacred Sites Act amendments overnight, which it says will simplify and streamline the approval process for development. The changes allow for the transfer of certificates issued by the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority and include the introduction of an enforceable undertakings regime to remediate damages to sacred sites, rather than prosecution through a court process. "The cultural authority of custodians remains central, and the amendments will provide much needed clarity and simpler, streamlined approval processes, while ensuring the protection of sacred sites remains paramount," NT Lands, Planning and Environment Minister Joshua Burgoyne said. But the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority board has raised concern about the legislation's consultation process, which it says has not been adequate. "The Sacred Sites Act is meant to protect Aboriginal sacred sites, but Aboriginal people and their representative organisations have not been consulted on these changes," chair Bobby Nunggumajbarr said. "I am also disappointed that industry and the wider public have not been consulted." Mr Nunggumajbarr said the authority wants laws that provide developers with a clear framework, while giving certainty to the community that sacred sites will be protected. He said the NT government has missed an opportunity to modernise and strengthen the Act. "The fact is, the board is worried that the amendments do not have Aboriginal consultation at their heart," Mr Nunggumajbarr said. "These changes have been quickly drafted without a good understanding of the importance of sacred sites to the NT community, and they increase the potential for disputes and legal challenges." The Central Land Council has also raised concerns about consultation on the amendments. Following a meeting with Mr Burgoyne in March, land council chair Warren Williams said he had been met with "empty talk". In correspondence to Mr Burgoyne on Wednesday, ahead of the amendments passing, Mr Williams told the minister he was missing a chance to make sacred sites legislation stronger for everyone by not speaking with the territory's land councils. "You have heard our delegates speak from the heart about how important sacred sites are to our people and the stress and suffering we experience when they are damaged or at risk of harm," the letter said.
The Guardian
25-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Traditional owners accuse NT government of ‘treating them like children' in meeting on sacred site act reform
Traditional owners in the NT have launched a scathing attack on the territory government, accusing it of 'treating them like children' in a 'tick-a-box' meeting on sacred site reforms. The Northern Territory government on Monday announced plans to amend the Sacred Sites Act to reduce the administrative burden on landholders and give developers confidence. The lands, planning and environment minister, Joshua Burgoyne, told the ABC he would 'make sure that we bring traditional owners along for the ride with us' in the reform process. But a representative body for traditional owners in central Australia said the government had been 'secretive' about the proposed changes. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The Central Land Council represent 75 remote communities and outstations. Its chair, Warren Williams, met with the minister last week over reforms to the legislation. 'We asked for information; he gave us platitudes. He disrespected us and treated us like little children,' Williams said. 'He asked us to simply accept that the government's intentions behind the changes are good. He wouldn't give us any details about the changes or how they would work. All he had was empty talk. No wonder we are all very alarmed. 'Do not believe him if he tries to pass off this cynical tick-a-box exercise as consultation with the land councils.' The Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act protects about 15,000 recognised Indigenous heritage in the territory. It is the strongest legislation to protect sacred sites in the country, according to the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority. In 2016, an independent review under the Labor-led Gunner government made 36 recommendations and called for sweeping changes, including strengthening protections, maximising penalties for breaches and streamlining processes. Burgoyne said the review would be the basis for reforming the act. Williams said sacred sites belonged to the traditional owners not the government, and urged the Finocchiaro government to work with them to reform the laws. '[The government] should not change the law protecting our sites without consulting traditional owners and native title holders,' Williams said. 'This is not how informed consent works.' In a statement, Burgoyne said the proposed amendments would improve 'consistency across legislation' and give industries greater confidence. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'Any updates to the Sacred Sites Act will seek to strengthen the protection of sacred sites and ensure our regulatory processes provide for safe development in the Northern Territory,' he said. He said the act had not been updated in more than 30 years. Among the proposed changes is making authority certificates – documents that protect sacred sites from damage by setting out the conditions for undertaking work in the area – transferable. They are now issued only for a specific proposal, and any works falling outside it do not have legal protection. Burgoyne said the proposed change would 'ensure that processes do not need to be unnecessarily repeated and cause delays to development'. Opposition MP and former deputy chief minister Chansey Paech, whose electorate, Gwoja, stretches from the Victoria Highway down to the South Australian border, including the western desert region, said any reforms to the act must protect 'country'. 'We cannot let any proposed changes dilute the NT Sacred Sites Act,' the Arrente, Arabana and Gurindji man said on social media. 'Now, more than ever, we must stand together to protect country. The NT CLP Government must immediately come forward and clearly outline the proposed changes and stop hiding.' The NT government did not immediately respond to Guardian Australia's questions.
