2 September, 2024

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) is deeply concerned with the debate surrounding the proposed Regis gold mine in Blayney and the weaponisation of Aboriginal culture to serve political and commercial interests.

NSWALC has long advocated for long overdue meaningful and just Aboriginal Culture and Heritage (ACH) law reform at both the State and Federal level that provides protection for ACH values whilst providing greater certainty for all stakeholders and interests. 

Instead, we arrive at another juncture where Aboriginal culture and a local representative body in the Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC), whom has a statutory responsibility to protect Aboriginal culture and heritage, are used as political pawns to serve others interest and in the process creates division in the community.

“Local Aboriginal Land Councils, and communities across NSW take our ACH obligations seriously, they have the local knowledge and care for Country,” NSWALC Chairperson Cr Raymond Kelly said.

The foundations and pillars of Land Rights in this state are built around the Aboriginal Land Rights Act and the pivotal role played by NSWALC and our 121 LALCs throughout NSW.

“ACH should never be used as a pawn for political posturing and advantage, and we are concerned that this has occurred recently. We need better systems at both the NSW and Federal levels that aren’t used by governments to divide our peoples,’’ Chairperson Cr Kelly said.