In consultation with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal representative groups, develop new legislation to better and proactively protect Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and require Aboriginal peoples’ free, prior and informed consent for all decisions affecting Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.
- Enshrine the sole power for decision making for Aboriginal cultural heritage and native title to lie with Aboriginal peoples.
- Enshrine the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent as described in the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in all legislation, policy and law that concerns the cultural heritage of Aboriginal peoples.
- Prohibit the destruction of cultural heritage. Remove Section 18 permits, which give consent to use land for a purpose that is likely to damage, destroy or in any way alter an Aboriginal site, or would otherwise be an offence under Section 17 of the AH Act.
- Remove Section 16 fees to encourage investigation prior to the award of a section 16 permit for excavation, examination or removal of items from Aboriginal sites, and to discourage Section 18 permits.
- Provide effective methods for Aboriginal peoples to challenge decisions.
- Increase funding for the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage and other departments involved in administration of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, to ensure application of the Act in a way that protects Aboriginal heritage and ensures the timely processing of heritage applications.
- Apply protections for Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) rights.