Major tree-planting events are canceled after a newly formed Aboriginal company demanded a $2.5 million payment for approval – as frustration grows over new cultural heritage laws
- WA’s cultural heritage laws are wreaking more havoc
- Tree planting events along a river in Perth have been cancelled
- Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation is reportedly seeking $2.5 million
Two major tree-planting events were canceled following a request from an Aboriginal company for a $2.5 million payment in exchange for their endorsement.
Land care volunteers were supposed to roll up their sleeves to plant 5,500 seedlings along Perth’s Canning River over the weekend.
But the events never came to fruition following a $2.5 million demand from the newly formed Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation, sparking confusion over Western Australia’s new Aboriginal heritage laws.
The chief executive David Collard told land care groups the plantings could not go ahead due to the Indigenous group’s ongoing dispute with the Western Australian government over funding.
The decision has baffled conservation groups and community leaders, including four local mayors.
Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation CEO David Collard (pictured) reportedly told the land care group that two tree planting events could not take place
There is now a serious fear that the seedlings are now at risk of dying and may be 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.
“We have a lot of country groups in Perth and in WA whose work is critical to meeting Commonwealth, state and local government environmental goals. It’s not just nice to have, it’s crucial.’
Pat Hart added: ‘We have four dams on the Canning, there are real problems. The time is… we can’t wait. We have to keep moving forward.’
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 that someone needs to clarify this legislation – it’s become a bit of a mess,” said City of Canning Mayor Patrick Hall.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti released a statement stressing that the case had “nothing to do with WA’s ‘modernised'” laws.
He then personally called concerned community leaders, including Cr Hall, to reassure them that this was the case.
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 furore comes after 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.
Thousands of seedlings that were meant to be planted are now at risk of dying