Federal Inquiry into the destruction of Juukan Gorge

The Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000 year old caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia is set to be delayed indefinitely due to COVID-19.

IAHA support Inquiry chair, Warren Entsch MP, in calling on the WA Government to ensure that no new approvals be granted under Section 18 of the state’s Aboriginal Heritage Act until the completion of the inquiry.  Further, IAHA call for a moratorium on action under existing approvals until such time.

Earlier this year, IAHA released a statement calling for greater protection for sites of cultural significance, in the understanding that the continued destruction of the environment and of sites of cultural significance is at odds with supporting the health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

You can read our statement here.