Govt ‘ignored’ traditional owners over Sacred Sites Bill

Northern Land Council chair Matthew Ryan has called the NT government’s plans to amend to the Territory’s Sacred Sites Act 1989 an act of prioritising development over heritage assets.

The NT Government has progressed the Bill without any consultation, proving, Mr Ryan said, it has no respect for Traditional Owners and no understanding of the centrality of sacred sites to Aboriginal culture and lore.

“It is very clear this Bill is a rush job that undermines the integrity of the Sacred Sites Act in favour of proponents,” Mr Ryan said.

“The Sacred Sites Act isn’t about putting profits before our people; it is to protect our cultural heritage as we are obliged to do as custodians.

“Traditional Owners deserve the courtesy of being consulted about matters of critical importance and they are angry about being ignored.

“Securing rights to land and protecting sacred sites and cultural heritage have been hard-won rights and this dismissive behaviour from the NT Government is nothing short of an attack on our people.”

The NLC has said the Act needs to be updated, but any reccommendations put forward were ignored.

“Securing rights to land and protecting sacred sites and cultural heritage have been hard-won rights and this dismissive behaviour from the NT Government is nothing short of an attack on our people,” Mr Ryan said.