Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill funding confirmed in State Budget

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill funding confirmed in State Budget
Wednesday 18 August 2021

More than $11 million to support the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill 2021.

The McGowan Government will commit more than $11 million in the 2021-22 State Budget to progress the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill (ACHB) 2021.

The ACHB will deliver historic reform of Western Australia's Aboriginal heritage laws by replacing the outdated Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 to deliver greater protection for Aboriginal cultural heritage.

The Bill recognises that Aboriginal people hold the knowledge and cultural responsibility for their heritage. Under the new Bill, decisions about what qualifies as Aboriginal cultural heritage will be in the hands of Aboriginal people.

The McGowan Government has committed $10 million in the 2021-22 State Budget to provide one-off establishment, administration and capacity-building funding for Local Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Services (LACHS). This money is a commitment to capacity building and development, long before the new regime comes into effect.

The appointment of LACHS for each area of the State will play an active role in the management of cultural heritage. LACHS will be the go-to groups to help negotiate and facilitate agreement-making on land-use proposals.

A further $795,000 has also been allocated to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to finalise drafting of the Bill, to prepare policies, guidelines and regulations to support the Act, and to undertake stakeholder engagement on supporting documentation.

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage has been allocated $250,000 to progress work on an integrated systems solution to support the new Act when it passes through Parliament.

Read the media statement

Page last reviewed 18 August 2021
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