For Immediate Release

ANTaR Victoria has raised questions today about double standards in the new Aboriginal Heritage Act.

"When it comes to land justice and being culturally appropriate the Victorian Government still doesn't get it," ANTaR-Vic Chairperson, Jill Webb said today.

"The new Aboriginal Heritage Act changes the way that Aboriginal consultation about property development occurs," she said. "While the Act has rightly attempted to recognize Traditional Owners for the first time in Victorian cultural heritage management the legislation actually reduces the powers of Aboriginal parties."

While acknowledging that the overarching objective of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 is to ensure the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage in Victoria, the recently released strategy for implementing the Act, the Regulatory Impact Statement, says that the ultimate objectives of the Regulations include protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage and reducing delays to developments.

Thus, the regulations are at least in part directed to the interests of developers at the expense of Aboriginal cultural heritage.

The Regulatory Impact Statement provides new resources to the non-Indigenous parties but offers only limited funding for Traditional Owners. It fails to address the financial viability of the yet to be established Representative Aboriginal Parties.

"The serious money in the making of Cultural Heritage Management Plans will flow to the 'cultural heritage advisors', white archaeologists, rather than to the Aboriginal parties," Ms. Webb said.

"There is also no possibility for compensation for the destruction of Aboriginal cultural heritage if it has been duly carried out under a permit or a Cultural Heritage Management Plan. The Plans can minimize destruction, not stop it altogether."

"We are still waiting for a fair heritage protection system for Indigenous traditional owners and still waiting for land justice. It's time the Victorian Government's policy rhetoric measured up to real just outcomes for Victoria's Traditional Owners."