Aboriginal Remains, Riverlea Park

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to addressing a question to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs regarding the Riverlea housing estate.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: On 11 October 2024, the ABC reported, and I quote:

Developers of the Riverlea housing estate in Adelaide's north have been given the green light to continue building…authorisation for the project to continue under the Aboriginal Heritage Act…imposes 25 comprehensive conditions on the developer…to ensure Aboriginal heritage will be managed as respectfully as possible…

My questions to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs are:

1. What groups were consulted in relation to the decision to allow works to continue on the Riverlea site?

2. Were any groups consulted in relation to the 25 conditions imposed as part of the authorisation?

3. Is the minister aware of any contrary opinions from stakeholders in regard to the continuing work?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:31): This was one of the most comprehensive consultation processes that has ever occurred under an application under section 23 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988. It has taken many, many months—and unapologetically—to be as comprehensive as possible. I think the deadline for consultation was extended either four or five times to make sure as many interested Aboriginal people as possible could make submissions.

From memory, I think there were around three dozen separate submissions made that involved more than a hundred Kaurna people making submissions. Many, many people were involved in public meetings that were held in relation to submissions. The State Aboriginal Heritage Committee, I think, over three separate dates considered this matter to provide advice to the government. On the basis of that advice, on the basis of submissions received by the department and on the basis of recommendations from the department, the 25 conditions—and there are a number of subparts to a number of the 25 conditions—have been made in relation to this development, and it can only continue if those conditions are met.

In relation to whether I am aware of anyone who has contrary views within an Aboriginal community, yes, I am. I think sometimes we expect sections of the Aboriginal people to have an homogenous view that is in complete agreement with each other. We rarely expect that of other groups in society. So are there some groups within the Kaurna community who have views that differ from other members of the Kaurna community? Yes, there are.