Proposed bill to protect sacred sites met with disappointment

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Territory government has tabled a bill in parliament today making changes to laws that protect sacred sites. But the proposal has been met with disappointment from the authority who protect sacred sites in the Northern Territory.

Transcript

00:00It's one of the first acts passed by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory.

00:07A bill to preserve the places of deep significance under Aboriginal tradition.

00:12Today the final day of sittings until May.

00:14An amendment the government says seeks to reduce red tape that many say came out of

00:19the blue.

00:20This reform enhances regulatory compliance while ensuring a fair, efficient and effective

00:25resolution of breaches.

00:27The Assembly quickly voting to refer the bill to a Legislative Scrutiny Committee for further

00:31review.

00:32Those of that opinion say aye, to the contrary no, I think the ayes have it.

00:37But those responsible for protecting sacred sites under the law, the Aboriginal Areas

00:42Protection Authority, or ARPA, were blindsided by a change they say was proposed without

00:47consulting the people it affects most.

00:50We've only met with the minister once in this very room.

00:54We told him to wait.

00:56Led by a 12-member board including custodians from four land council regions, their concern

01:01just one week to prepare their submissions to the Scrutiny Committee isn't practical.

01:07That's not good enough for Aboriginal people out on country, right through the Northern

01:11Territory whose English has a third or fourth language, who does not have any connectivity

01:17whatsoever in remote communities that will be able to see the bill.

01:21The board say consultation under their cultural protocols takes time.

01:26In our law and our culture, the ceremonies must be undertaken by the law people, the

01:34elders themselves.

01:36I think it's an appalling display of behaviour that we are starting to see as a habit, as

01:42a pattern from the CLP government when it comes to laws that affect Territorians and

01:48not listening to the voices of Territorians.

01:51The government however say those voices will be heard.

01:55We're here, we've introduced the Scrutiny Committee, which the Labor government scrapped,

01:59so we are going to use that facility to give Territorians their opportunity to have their

02:02say about this legislation.

02:04The Scrutiny Committee will report back to Parliament by May 7th.

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