Wuthathi (Shelburne Bay) National Park was one of seven sites nominated by the Federal Government and former Labor state government in June 2024 for World Heritage status, a nomination that is now being reviewed. Photo: Supplied.
The future of Cape York as a World Heritage-listed landscape is unclear following a decision by the new State Government to stomp on the tentative listing and order a review of the consultation process.
In June 2024, the former Miles Labor government joined federal Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek and Traditional Owners (TOs) to announce seven sites across Cape York had been earmarked to receive World Heritage recognition by UNESCO.
The sites included in the tentative submission are Alwal National Park, KULLA (McIlwraith Range) National Park, Olkola National Park, Ma’alpiku (Restoration Island) National Park, Oyala Thumotang National Park, Wuthathi (Shelburne Bay) National Park, and Quinkan Country near Laura.
The consultation process to determine the tentative list was heavily criticised after TOs were the only stakeholders engaged by former Queensland environment minister Leanne Linard and her department, something Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell acknowledged in announcing earlier this month the Crisafulli Liberal National Party (LNP) government was concerned about the UNESCO submission.
A spokeswoman for Minister Powell said there was no indication “adequate consultation and consideration” had taken place in what several critics have suggested was a rushed process to make the submission before last year’s state and the looming federal elections.
“Concerns have been raised with the government about a lack of adequate consultation and consideration of impacts on future economic opportunities for local communities across the Cape,” the spokeswoman said.
“We have been clear this process must balance preserving economic opportunities with protecting the spectacular natural landscapes and that starts with consulting and including local communities.”
The Cape York Land Council (CYLC) was paid $1.2 million to undertake consultation sessions with TOs but several who approached Cape York Weekly on the condition of anonymity argued they felt it was a “tick and flick” process with a predetermined result.
“They (the CYLC) asked the government mob what decision they wanted from the start,” said one eastern Cape York TO, who asked not to be named.
“When we went to the meeting, it was like ‘this is what we need you to say’, not asking what us TOs and others really thought.”
CYLC chief executive officer Richie Ah Mat did not respond to an interview request but told The Australian he had been surprised to learn “many people weren’t happy about the process” as he distanced himself from the consultation sessions.
“It was run by the government, it wasn’t about our people,’’ he said.
“We welcome the review and believe future consultation has to be inclusive, it has to involve everyone, white fellas, black fellas, everybody that lives on the Cape.”
At the time of the World Heritage announcement, Ayapathu TO William Pratt said he supported the process.
“It is all new ground with this World Heritage tentative listing, but as for me, it would be a new concept to learn as we go on this journey and see what benefits can come out of it for the Traditional Owners,” he said in June 2024.
Former premier Steven Miles blasted the government’s decision and suggested its only motivation could be to pave the way for future mining and logging operations across the region.
“It’s shocking to me that after 15 years of consultation, the LNP government, after just a couple of months, have decided to withdraw from the tentative listing of Cape York on the World Heritage list,” he said.
“You would only tear up that tentative listing if you hoped to one day log and mine that land without the consent of those communities’ consent.”
The State Government is yet to reveal what format the review will take.
Former Queensland environment minister Leanne Linard, flanked by her state and federal counterparts and Traditional Owners, discusses the seven Cape York sites included in a tentative World Heritage submission at a media conference in Cairns in June 2024. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
