In February 2025, Toodyay farmer Tony Maddox was found guilty of breaching Western Australia’s Aboriginal Heritage Act (1972) for repairing an existing creek crossing on his property without knowing the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage had drawn a line around the tributary and registered it as a “site” on its Cultural Heritage map.
There are thousands of sites registered on the map, including golf courses, parks, main roads, entertainment precincts, and farming, industrial and residential areas – and it grows whenever a committee decides to add to it.
In court, the Department confirmed it had drawn a line around the tributary on Tony’s property after he had bought it and did not visit, consult – or even notify – him or the hundreds of other land owners who now need Ministerial approval to do almost anything on their property.
The charges brought against Tony currently stand as a precedent that could be used to open the floodgates and expose hundreds or perhaps even thousands of other landowners to the same terrible fate.
And that is why Tony needs your help to overturn the decision.
Recent News
Countryman: Toodyay landholder Tony Maddox fronts court for Aboriginal Land Heritage Act 1972 appeal
Toodyay landholder Tony Maddox fought back tears before heading into WA’s Supreme Court to appeal a criminal conviction for building a culvert on his private [...]
Thank you to the Members of Parliament who have supported me and raised the profile of this travesty, especially Shane Love MLA for his previous [...]
WA farm groups are calling for Aboriginal heritage sites to be shown on Certificates of Title, arguing landholders can face legal risk without clear notification [...]
When Tony Maddox walks into the Supreme Court tomorrow, Friday, February 20, supporters say he will be carrying more than his own defence. He will [...]
The following article was published by The Countryman newspaper today Calls from peak farming bodies for Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Committee transparency Georgia Campion WA’s peak farming bodies [...]
WAFarmers and the PGA have been great supporters during what has been a tough time for me and my family. I’m deeply thankful for the [...]
With thanks to a couple of donors, we have placed an ad in today’s Farm Weekly newspaper to raise public awareness of the campaign to [...]
The following article appeared today on The Countryman newspaper website today. WAFarmers, PGA double down on Tony Maddox support as he prepares to head to [...]
A 30 second radio ad voiced by former PGA President Tony Seabrook will be played from today on the Triple M regional WA network. The [...]
The following article was published in the Farm Weekly today KING’S Counsel Mark Trowell has joined the fight to overturn charges laid on Toodyay farmer [...]
The ABC WA Country Hour presented a comprehensive story today about the WAFarmers’ allegations of multiple corporations breaching the same laws that Tony was charged [...]
King’s Counsel Mark Trowell KC has joined the fight to overturn charges laid on Toodyay farmer Tony Maddox for repairing a creek crossing without knowing [...]
The Hon Neil Thomson MLC asked the following Question Without Notice which was answered by the Hon Stephen Dawson MLC: Hon Neil Thomson to the [...]
The following Question Without Notice was asked by the Hon Neil Thomson MLC on 3 December 2025: ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE INQUIRY SYSTEM Hon Neil Thomson [...]
From the Legislative Council’s Estimates and Financial Operations Committee: Hon Steve Martin: On another topic entirely—namely, the comment from [DPIRD Employee] about the Aboriginal heritage training [...]
From the Legislative Council’s Estimates and Financial Operations Committee: Hon Steve Martin: Changing tack again, minister. Also on page 3 [Of the DPIRD Annual Report] [...]
The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) has formally advised that it is investigating an allegation made by WAFarmers that the following organisations may [...]
Tony received notice today that the Supreme Court of Western Australia has listed his appeal for one day to be held at 10am on Friday [...]
ORDERS OF THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE FORRESTER DATED 28 OCTOBER 2025 PURSUANT TO THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE RULES 2005 (WA) ORDER 70 AND BY THE CONSENT OF [...]
