2016-08-24
Responding to the Supreme Court decision today to reject the challenge to the Aboriginal heritage approval for Roe 8, Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren said she was shocked that such an obviously poor and unfair process had been judged legal.
"Clearly, WA's Traditional Owners have very few rights under the existing legislation and as a result, our State's most ancient heritage is inadequately protected by these same laws," Ms MacLaren said.
"This is very disappointing for Corina, who took on this challenge in the face of personal hardship and it is also hugely disappointing for the Greens as we worked very hard over many months to secure documents that showed how the Roe 8 Section 18 approval was granted.
"If the views of the majority of Traditional Owners for the Beeliar Wetlands and the original 2013 recommendation of the Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee, which was based on their views, had been respected by this Government, we would not be here today, and Roe 8 would not be being proposed through one of Perth's most important heritage and spiritual sites, that has been in continuous use by our First People for thousands of years.
"If the Government thinks today's outcome means Roe 8 will be built they are wrong.
"The community's resolve to stop Roe 8 and the Perth Freight Link is if anything greater than ever, while a possible challenge in the High Court to the environmental approval for Roe 8 still hangs over this unpopular and ill-planned project."
Related campaign: Stop Roe 8 - Save Beeliar WetlandsRelated portfolios: Urban Bushland and WetlandsTransport