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 have breached Aboriginal Heritage laws:

• Google;
• The ABC;
• The West Australian;
• The Countryman;
• Sky News Australia;
• 6PR/9News;
• The Australian newspaper; and
• Forrest & Forrest Pty Ltd

The allegation is that these organisations may have breached section 10(h) of the Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 1974 which clearly says:

10. Activities requiring consent 

On any land to which these regulations apply, a person shall not, without the written consent of the Minister or the Registrar or a person authorised in writing by the Minister or the Registrar —…

(h) except with the prior written approval of the Minister, or the Registrar, and in accordance with such requirements as they may impose, take any photograph or make any recording for the purpose of commercial reproduction or publication.

The Department has a copy of images of Aboriginal Heritage Sites taken, commercially reproduced and published by each of these organisations.

More to come