NSWALC has been advocating for better protections for Aboriginal culture and heritage since the late 1970's. This page provides information about the current NSW Government inquiry into the laws managing Aboriginal culture and heritage in NSW. This inquiry is reviewing options to establish increased protections for Aboriginal culture and heritage and potentially stand-alone legislation.

This page contains the following sections:

  • Latest News - December 2011 
  • NSWALC Background Papers - Reforming Aboriginal culture and heritage laws

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Latest News - December 2011

In late October 2011 the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) released information on the OEH website advising that consultations on developing options to reform NSW Aboriginal culture and heritage laws were to take place in 25 locations around NSW during November and December 2011.

The OEH also released a discussion paper titled 'Aboriginal heritage legislation in NSW: Public consultation on issues for reform'. 

NSWALC and NTSCORP have raised major concerns about the extremely short 'public consultation' process, and limited notice that has been provided to the community. NSWALC and NTSCORP also have significant concerns about the composition of the Aboriginal Culture and Heritage Reform Working Party. These concerns, and an overview of the process to date, are outlined in further detail in a Network Message  and Fact Sheet.

NSWALC and NTSCORP provided a submission to the discussion paper that can be downloaded here.

How to have your say!

The OEH will be accepting written and verbal submission until 31 December 2011.NSWALC has developed a Template Letter to assist Local Aboriginal Land Councils and members of the Aboriginal community to have a say.

Written submissions can be sent to:
Chair, Aboriginal Culture and Heritage Reform Working Party
c/o Office of Environment and Heritage
PO Box A290 Sydney South NSW 1232

Fax your submission to 02 9585 6366
Email comments to ach.reform@environment.nsw.gov.au
Telephone messages can be left at this free service 1800 881 152.

NSWALC has also developed a template letter to assist members of the public to have a say about the reforms. 

More information

Please contact the NSWALC Policy and Research Unit on 02 9689 4444 or policy@alc.org.auif you would like further information about the broader reform process.

The OEH discussion paper and other information about the broader reform process, and how to lodge a submission can be accessed on the OEH website at:http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/achreform/index.htm 

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NSWALC background papers - Reforming Aboriginal culture and heritage laws

In February 2010, when amendments to the Aboriginal culture and heritage provisions in the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 were introduced into Parliament, the NSW Government announced it would establish a Working Party to consider options for establishing independent Aboriginal heritage legislation for NSW.

With "broad reform" of the state's Aboriginal culture and heritage regime again on the Government's agenda, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) has commissioned the following three research papers to stimulate discussion and debate:

'Our Sites, Our Rights - Returning control of Aboriginal sites to Aboriginal communities: A summary of key recommendations of past Aboriginal heritage reviews in NSW';

This report provides a succinct summary of the history of reforms to Aboriginal culture and heritage laws in NSW and outlines the key findings and recommendations of previous reform attempts, including the Keane Committee Reports in the early 1980's and the reports of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Working Group in the mid-1990's.

 Our Sites, Our Rights - Image

'Caring for Culture: Perspectives on the effectiveness of Aboriginal cultural heritage legislation in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia';

Original research was conducted and is used in this paper to examine some of the strengths and weaknesses in three other legislative regimes. Aboriginal people, government representatives, lawyers and heritage professionals in other states were interviewed to find out what some of the key issues are with the culture and heritage laws in Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.

Caring for Culture: Image

'Commonwealth, State and Territory Heritage Regimes: summary of provisions for Aboriginal consultation'.  

This report, completed by the National Native Title Tribunal, provides an overview of the culture and heritage laws in other Australian states and territories, with a focus on  provisions relating to consultation requirements.

 Commonwealth, State and Territory - Image

 

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Click here for a network message about the background papers.

FEEDBACK WELCOME!

If you have any comments, feedback or questions about the reports, or would like more information about the broader reform process, please contact the NSWALC Policy and Research on 02 9689 4444 or  policy@alc.org.au.