Aboriginal Corporation CEO David Collard is fired after demanding $2.5million from government to allow planting of trees at Perth

The leader of an Aboriginal company who demanded $2.5 million to approve two tree-planting events has been removed from his role.

LandCare volunteers planned to plant 5,500 seedlings along Perth’s Canning River this weekend.

But the event was canceled after David Collard, CEO of Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation, demanded $2.5 million to keep it going, causing confusion over Western Australia’s new Aboriginal heritage laws.

He has now been fired from his position, but the company insists it was not because of the plant story.

“The employment relationship with Mr. Collard ended in July 2023 and this had nothing to do with the Canning River planting,” the company said in a statement.

It is now feared that the seedlings are at risk of dying and being lost.

“We need to get them in the ground to make the most of the wet soil,” said Stephen Johnston of South East Regional Land Care. Seven news.

It comes after the WA’s revamped Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act came into effect with tougher penalties for damaging sites of traditional significance.

Many rivers, creeks and other tributaries are now considered ethnographic sites, requiring the highest level of assessment to change.

The Canning River is one of several rivers now recognized as a place of Aboriginal cultural significance.

At least three community tree planting events have been shut down since the new laws went into effect two weeks ago.

Thousands of seedlings were meant to be planted along Perth’s Canning River (pictured)

Canning Mayor Patrick Hall (left) and land management advocates are outraged by the decision

Frustrated mayors have begged the WA government to step in and fix the problem.

“We stand here today in solidarity with some of these environmental groups and say, somebody needs to clarify this legislation – it’s become a bit of a mess,” said City of Canning Mayor Patrick Hall.

Western Australia’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti said it was “incredibly disappointing” that the Canning River plantings fell through, but stressed that the state’s Indigenous heritage regime had otherwise got off to a “fairly smooth” start, reported The Australian.

However, opposition leader Shane Love said the new law had led to “total chaos” and acted as a handbrake for many industries.

He called on Dr Buti to resign from the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

“If anyone should be blamed, it’s Dr Buti and his management of this whole situation as a minister,” said Mr Love.

“We told him before this came in that the community wasn’t ready for it and it’s very, very clear in the short time since this law was introduced that there is a huge amount of confusion and concern about what the rules actually mean, and how things and social groups and landowners can negotiate here.’

Thousands of seedlings that were meant to be planted are now at risk of dying

Shadow Defense Secretary Andrew Hastie, who is also a federal member for Canning, wants the new laws abolished.

“The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Laws are only two weeks old and an Indigenous company is already using them to claim millions of dollars,” he wrote Sunday night.

“It’s time for Roger Cook (WA Premier) to scrap these divisive laws.”

The latest furor comes a week after the opening of the $232 million Mitchell Freeway extension erupted in chaos when two Aboriginal elders clashed over who had the right to officiate the smoking ceremony.

Deputy Minister Rita Saffioti was seen at the launch hurriedly turning away to consult an official, while Whadjak Noongar man Steve Jacobs bickered with another native man over who had the right to officiate the ceremony.