Perth’s leading Aboriginal corporation flags bringing heritage work in-house after split with private firm

3 months ago 17

An Aboriginal corporation with a crucial role in heritage approvals across metropolitan Perth says it has severed ties with its heritage service provider and will no longer deal with the organisation.

The Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation says the private firm, South West Aboriginal Land Services, is no longer authorised to carry out any heritage services, assessments, or related works on its behalf.

The Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation manages heritage matters across much of the Perth metropolitan area.

In a strongly worded statement this week, WAC said: “Any existing contracts, quotes, or arrangements involving SWALS on behalf of Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation are terminated effective immediately.”

The announcement is likely to raise concerns among councils, government agencies and developers across Perth who rely on Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation for cultural heritage work and securing Indigenous Land Use Agreements. The corporation has flagged its intention to bring its heritage work exclusively in-house, and train suitable heritage officers to deal with the workload.

Newly appointed chief executive Leon Ruri, who took on the role on June 16 after two previous CEOs departed, told this masthead the decision to sever ties with its contracted heritage provider gave WAC “full control and oversight of heritage matters, in alignment with our cultural responsibilities and governance standards.

“I believe it’s absolutely the best outcome for our Indigenous Land Use Agreement partners, the Whadjuk community and members,” he said.

The announcement is the latest in a series of upheavals for the Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation, which Ruri said had about 750 registered members.

The corporation’s operations were suspended by trustee Perpetual in April after a number of board members resigned, leaving a lack of quorum and severing the corporation’s access to funding.

The corporation was directed to fix its problems or risk losing its status as the body representing the interests of Whadjuk Noongar people across Perth.

It reopened its doors in June under emergency powers from the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations that enabled it to operate with a quorum of three directors and an expert director.

Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Leon Ruri.

The agreement lapses in December. A Whadjuk members’ meeting will be held in September.

Whadjuk Aboriginal Corporation is one of six Aboriginal regional bodies set up to distribute benefits from $50 million in annual trust payments under the state’s historic South West Native Title Settlement.

The settlement, in the form of six Indigenous Land Use Agreements, was negotiated between the Noongar people and the WA government, covers 200,000 square kilometres of the south-west region and came into effect in 2021.

Worth a total of $1.3 billion, the settlement is regarded as the most comprehensive native title agreement negotiated so far in Australia.

Among WAC’s clients is Perth Airport, which is planning a $2.5 billion third runway project that requires major cultural heritage assessments under WA law to avoid disturbing significant sites.

The process includes requirements for heritage “monitors” to attend sites during construction.

Ruri told this masthead that crucial section 18 clauses awarded to the airport authority for heritage land earmarked for the third runway would not be affected.

He said WAC “will continue to engage on sensitive heritage issues” and develop a working relationship with Perth Airport.

“I am in direct contact with Perth Airport and there should be no disruption,” he said.

Ruri said WAC would be seeking “direct employment pathways for Whadjuk members”, including training and appointment of its own team of heritage monitors.

Ruri said he recently met with former contractor SWALS.

“We have had respectful conversations about ending the relationship in its current form to both sides’ satisfaction,” he said.

This masthead contacted SWALS but was told they had no comment.