JUUKAN GORGE CAVES —
ABORIGINAL CULTURAL MATERIAL COMMITTEE
1007. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister representing the
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs:
I refer to the ABC article ''Juukan
Gorge inquiry hears of doubts over WA Government's approval of Rio
Tinto application'', dated 21
September 2020, and specifically those parts of the article relating to the
Yinhawangka group.
(1) Is the
minister aware that Rio Tinto plans to destroy 124 of 327 heritage sites with
its western range expansion project in the Hamersley Range?
(2) When was the section 18 approval
granted for this expansion?
(3) Will the minister please table the minutes of the
Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee meeting associated with the
section 18 decision by the ACMC?
(4) Is the
minister aware of Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation relying on ''Rio's
goodwill'' in relation to protecting these sites?
(5) Will the minister take personal responsibility for
any cultural or heritage destruction at the site, considering permission
has been granted?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. I answer on behalf of the Minister for
Environment.
(1)–(5) The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has informed
me that the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is not able to identify the exact section 18
notice based on the details given in the question, and has requested
clarification so that a response can be provided.