“Disrespected’ traditional owners hit out at NT law change

Traditional owners in the Northern Territory have expressed concerns over plans to change the NT Sacred Sites Act, saying they were ‘disrespected’ in recent talks.

Central Land Council chair Warren Williams said they were asked to accept the NT government’s changes, but they were not given any real information about the plan.

“He disrespected us and treated us like little children,” he told the ABC.

“He asked us to simply accept that the government’s intentions behind the changes are good.

“All he had was empty talk. No wonder we are all very alarmed.”

The proposed changes have come after the NT Cattlemen’s Association criticised the government for what it called ‘overlapping federal and territory legislation’.

Lands, Planning and Environment Minister Joshua Burgoyne said the changes would ‘streamline’ applications to work near or on protected areas.

Mr Burgoyne said the government would “make sure that we bring traditional owners along for the ride with us”, but there reaction from traditional owners has shown that not be the case.

“he gave us less information than what he gave to the media,” Mr Williams said.