It’s Official.. ACH Laws Have Been Scrapped

WA Premier Roger Cook has announced that the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Laws that came into effect only five weeks ago are headed for the chopping block. 

Mr Cook has acknowledged that the laws went too far, were over-complicated and placed unnecessary stress on WA property owners. 

At a press conference held this morning, Mr Cook apologised: “I understand that the legislation has unintentionally caused, stress, confusion, and division in the community and for that I am sorry.” 

The law will now revert to the original laws that were set in 1972 but with some key changes. “By reverting to original 50-year-old legislation we can reset, end all the confusion and importantly strike the right balance.” 

A key change as mentioned will include “everyday” property owners will, under no circumstances, be required to undertake surveys of their own land. Instead, the government will now be undertaking a decade-long project that will see them undertake their own surveys in “high priority” sections of WA. These surveys will be published. 

"When I became premier eight weeks ago, I made a promise to the people of Western Australia. A promise that I would always govern in the interest of all Western Australians and that I would lead a government that uses common sense and above all listens to people. Today I am delivering on that commitment."

Mr Cook also used the press conference to confirm that he had no contact with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, his office, or any federal members in relation to the laws and denied that there had been any federal pressure to repeal the laws. It had been speculated that the Federal government was keen to scrap the ACH Laws as it caused confusion and concern in regard to the upcoming Voice referendum.