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High Court rejects Crown immunity for sacred sites damage

Michael Pelly
Michael PellyLegal editor

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The Commonwealth can now be prosecuted for damage to Indigenous sacred sites, after the custodians of Kakadu National Park won a test case in the High Court over a walking track at picturesque Gunlom Falls.

The court on Wednesday overturned a ruling of the Northern Territory Supreme Court that the Director of National Parks (DNP) could claim crown immunity for breaches of the Sacred Sites Act.

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Michael Pelly is the legal editor, based in our Sydney newsroom. He has been a senior adviser to federal and state attorneys-general and written two books, one a biography of former High Court Chief Justice Murray Gleeson. Email Michael at michael.pelly@afr.com

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    Original URL: https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/high-court-rejects-crown-immunity-for-sacred-sites-damage-20240506-p5fp8c