The Australian Heritage Council has released a new policy outlining how it intends working with Indigenous people and communities in the process of nominating and assessing places for possible inclusion on heritage lists.
The Council’s Free, Prior and Informed Consent Policy describes how the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of Indigenous people is to be obtained for heritage inclusion.
In a statement, the Council said in all cases where there may be Indigenous rights or interests in a place that was nominated, it sought to obtain the FPIC of relevant Indigenous peoples before providing advice to the Minister for the Environment.
It said the Council would also obtain the views of other members of the broader Australian community on a nomination.
“In certain cases, this may require further time to be taken for proper engagement with Indigenous people before the Council provides advice on particular nominations,” the Council said.
“The Council recognises that determining FPIC in practice will depend on the context of the particular case.”
It said in each case, the Council would seek to determine questions such as from whom FPIC should be appropriately sought; at what stage of an assessment it should be sought; what form consent could take; and how to characterise FPIC in cases where there were disagreements.
“Seeking FPIC will ensure the Council is effectively fulfilling its duties as well as contributing to a National and Commonwealth Heritage List which fully embraces the diversity, complexity and wonder of Australia’s rich heritage,” the Council said.
