Article by Adam Poulson courtesy of the Countryman.
An e-petition calling on the Cook Government to delay the introduction of WA’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act has amassed more than 29,000 signatures in a fortnight, smashing the previous WA record.
The petition — which was only open to WA residents — was launched on June 6 by Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA president Tony Seabrook, pictured, and closed on Tuesday.
It calls for the Act’s July 1 start date to be pushed back at least six months after backlash from farmers and Native Title groups, and amid concerns the infrastructure required to administer it is not ready. Shadow heritage minister Neil Thomson — who was due to present the document to Parliament on Wednesday — urged the Government to “take note of the massive response”.
“This is a reflection of the massive anxiety in the community about their future and their livelihoods,” he said.
“The Government has abjectly failed to engage the whole community on such an important issue, which is so complex.
“They’re going to fundamentally change the way farming communities, landholders and civil contractors operate.”
The petition made history after clocking up its 17,890th signature in less than nine days, with the figure rising to well above 29,000 by the time Countryman went to print on Tuesday afternoon.
The previous WA record — which took more than six weeks to set — was held by an e-petition opposing the WA Government’s demersal fishing ban last September.
A spokesman for WA Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti told Countryman the Government “has no plans to delay the implementation date”.
“We have been reassured by the Department (of Planning, Lands and Heritage) that all systems are ready to go on July 1,” he said.
Mr Seabrook said the Government’s refusal to back down demonstrated “the absolute arrogance of a government beholden to nobody”.
“They are so far out of step with community expectations,” he said. The legislation was fast-tracked through Parliament in the last sitting week of 2021 under urgent Bill provisions.
