There are growing fears that a return of the Cook government in next month’s election could herald massive disruptions to business, tourism and even private residences, for the Swan Valley and surrounding areas.
The concern was raised by WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam, following a court decision yesterday, ruling against Toodyay farmer Tony Maddox, who was found guilty of repairing and improving a driveway on his own property, without gaining permission under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, 2023 amendments.
Despite the amended laws getting repealed following a massive public outcry, Mr Maddox was found guilty under the laws at the time and fined $5,000 in court costs, $2,000 in fines, and he is up for $100,000 in legal fees.
His ‘crime’ was to improve a crossing over a waterway on his own property, which, according to the Aboriginal Heritage Act, is associated with the mythological Rainbow serpent, Wagyl’.
Even though Maddox was prosecuted under the act prior to its amendments, Libby Mettam said: ‘WA Labor at its core believes landowners should have only secondary rights to their land’.
The Swan Valley wine region and many of it’s surrounding suburbs are particularly vulnerable, due to the many alleged ‘culturally significant’ areas throughout. The Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, already lay claim to the Swan River and it’s waterways and landscapes, as having been created by the ‘Wagyl’.
Yagan Memorial Park, just outside Ellenbrook, is a burial site for the warrior Yagan’s head, while Mandoon Estate in Caversham and most of Guilford contains many campsites and spiritual sites.
WA Liberals Aboriginal Affairs Spokesman Neil Thompson said the court decision highlighted flaws in the law and highlighted the Cooks’ government aggressive approach to prosecution.
‘It should be very clear from Roger Cook’s emotional and irrational attack on the liberals during the debate of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, that an Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act Mark II is a given, if Labor win the March 8 election’, he said.
