The Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists Inc. (AACAI) is the peak professional body representing consulting archaeologists in Australia. The Australian Archaeological Association (AAA) is Australia’s largest archaeological organisation, representing professionals, researchers, students, and others with an interest in archaeology.

As experts in Australia’s precious archaeological heritage, members of AACAI and AAA advise and work with Traditional Owners across the nation. In Western Australia, both organisations made detailed submissions for the current reform of the out-dated WA Aboriginal Heritage Act, including the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill presented in September 2020. Having engaged in more than two years of consultation, we were deeply disappointed in the draft Bill that has been shared, which was found wanting by respondents in all sectors, and to find that our carefully researched submissions were effectively ignored.

The fundamental goal for all practitioners in Indigenous heritage is to acknowledge and respect Traditional Owners’ rights to manage their heritage, especially when considering impacts to heritage from development. The Bill failed to achieve this goal in several ways: