Protect Australia's Cultural Heritage

PROTECT ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE

The 2020 destruction of rock shelters (or caves) in the Pilbara – with evidence of human occupation dating back 46,000 years – sent shockwaves around the world. It wasn’t the first event of this kind, and it won’t be the last: Australia’s Aboriginal cultural heritage is being harmed or destroyed every day.

The Jawaren and Garnkiny sites in the East Kimberley, Mt Richardson and Lake Wells in the Goldfields, the Burrup and Harding Dam in the Pilbara, and Munday Swamp just east of Perth, are just the tip of the iceberg of significant Aboriginal cultural heritage locations at risk.

Hundreds of sites are at risk of harm or destruction right now. Many intersect sacred waterways, cave systems, songlines and Dreamtime locations with irreplaceable engravings, paintings and artefacts dating back tens of thousands of years.

The WA State Government has recently passed new laws that will allow the ongoing destruction of more sites like these. Although passed, the State is now engaged in consultation regarding the act’s regulations and guidelines, embarking on its third and final phase of this process. Visit the website to make a submission and find out where workshops are being held across Western Australia.