Western Australia’s decision to abolish its controversial Aboriginal cultural heritage laws has left both sides of the Indigenous Voice to parliament debate claiming victory, landowners expressing relief and Rio Tinto vowing to maintain higher standards of behaviour, despite having safeguards removed.

After WA Labor Premier Roger Cook apologised on Tuesday for the “confusion and division” the laws had caused, Voice supporters welcomed the end of what they said was a distraction that was killing support in the west and beyond.