‘We know that the climbing community really cares about Indigenous cultural heritage and always leaves the environment better than they found it,’ Jonno Duniam says

The federal opposition is demanding the Victorian government keep all established climbing routes at Mt Arapiles open until it consults with stakeholders on the controversial decision.

Australia’s cultural heritage laws would come under the microscope under an Opposition push to scrutinise how parts of our country being locked up and developments blocked.

The Coalition is calling for a Senate inquiry into the operation, implementation and outcomes of cultural heritage laws at the federal, state and territory levels.

It follows Parks Victoria’s controversial decision to introduce rock climbing bans across swathes of the world-renowned Mt Arapiles in northwestern Victoria.

Parks Victoria chief executive Matthew Jackson last week revealed the decision was not up for public consultation due to the state’s cultural heritage laws.

Rock climbing will be banned at swathes of the world-renowned Mt Arapiles in northwestern Victoria. Picture: Jason Edwards

Federal Opposition environment spokesman Jonno Duniam said: “Everyone deserves a proper consultation process, not this rushed decision that is going to gut towns across the Wimmera and take away one of the world’s premier climbing areas for no good reason.”

“There needs to be an urgent rethink on this decision,” Senator Duniam said.

“We know that the climbing community really cares about Indigenous cultural heritage and always leaves the environment better than they found it.

“The federal Coalition’s motion seeks to investigate how our Indigenous cultural heritage laws can work in the interests of the Aboriginal communities, the environment and economic and recreational activity, not skewing too far one way where there is no balance.”

The inquiry would also investigate the effect of any proposed, potential or existing Treaty agreements with Indigenous Australians on the operation of cultural heritage laws.

Mallee MP Anne Webster is on Monday expected to move a motion calling on the federal government to explain its position on cultural heritage matters.

Dr Webster will also demand that the Victorian government keep all established climbing routes at Mt Arapiles open until it consults with stakeholders on the controversial decision.

She said her office, which represents the area, had been inundated with highly distressed people from across the political spectrum who consider Australian treasures such as Mt Arapiles “something that they ought to be able to share”.

“This trend is going in the wrong direction after Australians comprehensively voted No to the Voice referendum, over 78 per cent in Mallee and 70 per cent in Natimuk nearest to Mount Arapiles,” she said.

“Victorians have a creeping fear that as the Allan Labor government pursues their ‘treaty’, more and more of Victoria will become off limits – that’s not democracy.

“Labor’s behaviour adds to homeowner, farmer and landowners’ fears that their property rights are under serious threat.”