LABOR’S PROPOSED HERITAGE REFORMS A MAJOR RISK FOR AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY OWNERS

TONY PASIN MP

MEMBER FOR BARKER

ASSISTANT SHADOW MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT

MEDIA RELEASE

LABOR’S PROPOSED HERITAGE REFORMS A MAJOR RISK FOR AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY OWNERS

Member for Barker Tony Pasin MP, says he holds serious concerns about Labor’s Aboriginal Heritage Reforms, warning they could undermine private property rights and force property owners in to undergo expensive mandatory cultural surveys for basic activities such as mending fences or planting trees.

It comes after the Federal Labor Government refuse to rule out introducing heritage laws similar to those of Western Australia’s abandoned Cultural Heritage Act – which, if implemented, would have impacted all of those who own blocks of more than 1100 square metres requiring landowners to obtain cultural surveys for digging a hole more than 50 centimetres deep or lifting more than 20 kilograms of dirt.

“The Federal Labor Government is refusing to rule out a similar model and I am deeply concerned for what this means in Barker,” Mr Pasin said.

Mr Pasin said farmers, foresters and property owners in the regions had a strong record of protecting cultural sites and Labor needed to use common sense.

“There is genuine fear about what these changes could mean in regional Australia,” Mr Pasin said.

“Australians want to do the right thing, but Labor’s proposed laws, if modelled on WA’s failed legislation, will only serve to divide us.”

“Albanese needs to be honest with the Australian people, about what Labor’s reforms will mean for property owners, including if the Government intends to include mandatory cultural surveys as part of the Legislation,” Mr Pasin said.

“Common sense has prevailed in WA but we need the Federal Labor Government to rule out repeating similar laws across the country at a federal level,” Mr Pasin said.

Media Contact: Charlotte Edmunds 8724 7730