NT Sacred Site Act review planned by govt but opposition believes there’s more than meets the eye

The CLP government is planning to introduce amendments to the Territory’s sacred site Act – but the opposition believes there’s more to the review than meets the eye. Find out why.

NT Parliament House. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The CLP has announced plans to review the Territory’s Sacred Sites Act, a move which has the opposition believing it’s nothing more than a ploy to get around Traditional Owner approval for projects.

Lands, planning, and environment Minister Joshua Burgoyne said the government is planning to introduce amendments to the 1989 NT Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act when parliament resumes this week.

Mr Burgoyne said the Act has not been reviewed in 30 years despite an independent review into the act being completed nearly a decade ago.

Minister for Planning, Lands, and Environment Josh Burgoyne. Picture: Gera Kazakov

“I have met with the Board of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA) and representatives of all of the land councils to discuss the need for modernisation of the NT Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1989 (Sacred Sites Act),” he said.

“The Sacred Sites Act has not been updated in more than 30 years, and any updates will seek to strengthen the protection of sacred sites, while ensuring the efficiency of regulatory processes for the safe development of the Northern Territory.”

PricewaterhouseCoopers Indigenous Consulting reviewed the Act in 2016 and made 39 recommendations to improve protections for sacred sites, Mr Burgoyne said.

The review found all stakeholders – custodians and proponents – wanted developments to occur without damaging sacred sites, but also recognised the importance of economic development, Mr Burgoyne said.

Shadow Attorney-General Chansey Paech. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Other recommendations sought to reduce red tape, increase certainty, improve AAPA, and create a new compliance and penalty system, he said.

However, Shadow Attorney-General Chansey Paech believed the review was nothing more than an attempt by the government to bypass Traditional Owner approval on projects.

“They won’t come clean with what’s at the core of the changes, so I can only assume that they’re going to amend the Act so they can get around Traditional Owner approval for projects such as the Darwin Convention Centre Hotel,” he said.

“Despite the CLP’s commitment to transparency and integrity during the election campaign, they have been disingenuous and underhanded at every opportunity since taking the Government reins.

Aerial view of Arlparra. The Department of Logistics and Infrastructure is locked in a court battle with a AAPA to determine if a tree destroyed in the community was a sacred site or not. Picture: File

“This is just the latest in a string of actions that shows the CLP Government is completely apathetic when it comes to protecting and preserving places of historical and cultural significance.

“They have already put the fate of our heritage sites in the hands of the Territory Coordinator, and now they’re going to meddle with our sacred sites.

“The Northern Territory Sacred Sites Act is the strongest in the country; anything that seeks to undermine or weaken it is both foolish and shortsighted.”

The review comes after McArthur River Mine owners Glencore were convicted of breaching section 34 of the Sacred Sites Act by working on the Damangani sacred site.

The mine was fined $30,000 for the breach on March 5.

Meanwhile, the Department of Logistics and Infrastructure remains in bitter court battle with AAPA over a tree allegedly destroyed in Arlparra in 2021.

After a five day hearing on the matter was adjourned in the Alice Springs Local Court in February this year, both departments will be back in court for another five-day hearing later this year.

Originally published as NT Sacred Site Act review planned by govt but opposition believes there’s more than meets the eye