UNESCO World Heritage nomination for the Burrup Peninsula has been delayed by 12 months due to an invalid submission from the federal government. Former chair of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation Raelene Cooper described the confirmation as the latest example of government and industry collusion to develop Woodside’s Burrup Hub.
UNESCO has confirmed that consideration of the World Heritage nomination for sacred Murujuga rock art will not commence until 2025 after an error with the Australian government’s submission meant it missed the February 1 deadline due to an incomplete application, despite the government lodging the application in January this year.
A full cultural heritage assessment of Murujuga and Woodside’s Burrup Hub under Section 10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act has also stalled after the final report was submitted to Environment Minister Plibersek earlier this year without any response from the government so far.
The news also comes amidst an ongoing campaign by the gas industry to pressure the government to rewrite NOPSEMA offshore oil and gas regulations requiring consultation with traditional custodians after Ms Cooper successfully challenged environmental approvals for part of Woodside’s Burrup Hub in the Federal Court in September this year.
Reacting to news of the World Heritage delay, Mardudhunera woman and former chair of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation Raelene Cooper said:
“The delay in the Murujuga World Heritage nomination is just the latest evidence of government and industry colluding to keep expanding Woodside’s Burrup Hub over our sacred Murujuga rock art.
“We have been trying to secure World Heritage status for Murujuga for decades – my community and my Elders have been repeatedly betrayed by government promises over that time.
“When native title was extinguished and our sacred ngurra was compulsorily acquired for industry by the WA government, part of the deal we were compelled to sign included the promise that they would secure World Heritage protection for Murujuga. 20 years later we are still waiting.
“Years later, a leaked briefing note to the WA Premier showed the government was concerned that World Heritage listing “could deter new industrial development”. This further delay shows the government is still prioritising the Woodside’s Burrup Hub ahead of protecting our sacred Murujuga rock art.
“Above all, this shows that the gas industry lobby still has the WA and Australian governments sewn up to protect their interests over the concerns of traditional custodians. This latest development just shows why it is so important that government and industry have to listen to us before they build new industry on our ngurra. As things stand, it is the only protection we have.
“There are no animals or bush medicine out on the Burrup any more, all you see now is dust and chaos as these massive projects destroy our sacred sites. Not to mention that human beings have to live in close proximity to poisonous gas emissions coming from these projects, which are also near primary schools. The impact of these emissions is not only on our ancient sacred rock art but also on public health and air quality.
“The government has deliberately held back World Heritage to allow the gas industry to approve their projects and complete Woodside’s Burrup Hub before world heritage protections are in place. The Burrup is a building site right now and our sacred sites have been destroyed to make room for a massive fertiliser plant with all its toxic emissions.
“The flimsy regulations that currently require some basic consultation of traditional custodians are under sustained attack by Woodside and the fossil fuel industry. Without these legal protections, the government will continue delaying protections for Murujuga until Woodside’s Burrup Hub has completely destroyed our sacred rock art, our Songlines, and our ngurra for good.”
