Law Council of Australia Media Release - Caves destruction illustrates need for review and reform of Commonwealth legislation

02/10/2020

The systemic failure of Australia’s Commonwealth, State and Territory legislation to protect cultural heritage, has been exemplified by the incident that occurred at the Juukan Gorge, according to the Law Council of Australia.

Appearing before the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia, Law Council President, Ms Pauline Wright, Mr Tony McAvoy SC (Indigenous Legal Issues Committee), Mr Greg McIntyre SC (Executive Member and representative on the Australian Environment and Planning Law Group) and Ms Robyn Glindemann (Australian Environment and Planning Law Group), called on the government to substantially review and reform the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth) to provide effective, standalone protection to First Nations cultural heritage.

The Law Council also supports the development of national principles to guide reforms across all jurisdictions.

The Law Council's media release is available here.