Juukan Gorge Traditional Owners say they were disrespected and sidelined in the federal government's formal response to the inquiry into the caves' destruction.
, devastating West Australian custodians and causing global outrage.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek on Thursday presented the government's response to a parliamentary report on the incident, labelling the sacred site's destruction "unthinkable" and pledging it will never happen again.
But Traditional Owners, the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people, claimed they were not properly consulted.
PKKP not properly consulted
Chairman Burchell Hayes said Ms Plibersek's office had emailed the PKKP Aboriginal Corporation on Tuesday about the planned announcement.
He said custodians were angry and disappointed there had been "no detail or meaningful follow-up".
"All of this started with the destruction of our cultural heritage, everyone keeps on telling us they are sorry about it, but actions speak louder than words," Mr Hayes said in a statement.
"It seems like a media event in Canberra is more important than giving PKKP people the respect of asking us what can be done to try and stop something like the destruction of the Juukan rock shelters happening again."
PKKP Traditional Owner Harold Ashburton at the Juukan Gorge site which was destroyed by blasts by Rio Tinto in May 2020. Credit: PKKP Aboriginal Corporation.
Ms Plibersek's office said the minister had attempted to engage with the PKKP several times this week.
"A meeting between the CEO and the minister was also offered," a spokesperson said.
Reform of cultural heritage laws
Rio had legal permission to destroy the Juukan caves under WA's outdated Aboriginal Heritage, which has since been replaced by new state legislation.
A parliamentary committee examined the destruction and found major federal law reform was needed to protect Australia's cultural heritage.
Ms Plibersek said the government had accepted seven out of eight committee recommendations and would work through the other with the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance.
Members of the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance and federal parliamentarians at the signing of the Government’s response to the Joint Select Committee on Northern Australia’s report into the destruction of Juukan Gorge at Parliament House. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas/AAP Image
"It is unthinkable that any society would knowingly destroy Stonehenge or the Egyptian pyramids … but that's precisely what occurred in Juukan Gorge," she told parliament.
"This report explains how we reached that shameful moment ... [it] also tells the much bigger story of our national failure on Indigenous cultural heritage.
"We acknowledge that we have to do better. We are committed to doing so, in partnership with First Nations Australians."
Ms Plibersek said the reforms were not about stopping development but aimed at addressing "our oldest imbalance".
"We are always a better country ... when we give everyone a seat at the table and we listen to all voices," she said.
Opposition spokesman Pat Conaghan said the issues raised by the report needed serious attention and consideration.
"They drew into very sharp focus the wider need for the modernisation of Indigenous heritage protection laws here in Australia," he said.
But the Nationals MP said any work to improve cultural heritage law should not "demonise" the resources industry or impose "unacceptable risks to sensible sustainable economic development across Australia".
The announcement comes as Murujuga Traditional custodians await a decision from the federal government on the fate of sacred rock art in the Burrup Peninsula.
The rock art, which is estimated to be almost 50,000 years old, could be destroyed by Perdaman Industries' under-construction $4.5 billion urea plant.
Mardudhunera woman Raelene Cooper said Ms Plibersek has a chance to "step in and offer real protection" to cultural heritage by stopping the construction.
"How the minister addresses our concerns will be the test to see if things have really changed when it comes to protecting First Nations heritage," she said.
