WINTAWARI GURUMA ABORIGINAL CORPORATION —
PERMITS
1389. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister representing the
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
I refer to the Weelumurra Creek
cultural catchment area within which the Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal
Corporation recently conducted Aboriginal heritage surveys under section 16 of
the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972.
(1) Did the registrar of Aboriginal sites issue permit
595 under section 16 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 for cultural
investigations of sites in the Weelumurra Creek cultural catchment area to the
Eastern Guruma native title holders?
(2) Is the
minister aware of the significant cultural features across approximately 40
excavation sites in this catchment area, including rock engravings and sacred
sites?
(3) Is the
minister aware of the agreement between the Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal
Corporation and the centre of rock art studies at the University of Western Australia
regarding rock art research alongside the native title holders on Eastern
Guruma country?
(4) Does the minister agree that the agreement
discussed at (3) presents an incredible opportunity for the education and
research, both of the study of archaeology and the understanding of Aboriginal
Australian cultures?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for some
notice of the question.
(1)–(4) I
am advised that the registrar of Aboriginal sites has issued a section 16
permit to the Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation for a 12-month period.
The permit was issued in October 2019 and the WGAC is required to report to the
registrar in November 2020. The minister is not aware of any further
information in relation to the permit or the sites to which it relates, or any
agreement between the WGAC and the University of Western Australia.