Indigenous leaders launch fresh legal action to stop development of Olympic stadium despite Qld gov passing legislation to bypass heritage protections

Sky News AU

7 hours ago

Fresh legal action has been put forward by Indigenous leaders to halt the development of a 63,000-seat Olympic stadium at Brisbane's Victoria Park.
The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation (YMAC) lodged an official application on Tuesday for the permanent protection of Victoria Park (Barrambin), as it is considered "one of the city's most important First Nations sites".
YMAC spokesperson and Yagarabul elder Gaja Kerry Charlton said the premier's stadium plans, which were announced in March and received heavy criticism, came as a "complete shock".
Ms Charlton further affirmed her position on the significant site by adding it is riddled with ancient trees, artefacts and possible ancestral remains.
'For we Goori people, Barrambin is living Country, possessing sacred, ancient and significant relationships within our cultural heritage systems,' she said.
'It was a complete shock when the Premier came out with his stadium plans.
'We are very concerned there are ancient trees, artefacts and very important ecosystems existing there.
'There may be ancestral remains.
'We stand resolute in our responsibility to protect it.'
The application, which was lodged under Section 10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act (ATSIHP), can grant protection of a significant Indigenous area deemed under threat of injury or desecration.
The decision to approve or reject the Indigenous leaders' pleas lies in the hands of Environment Minister Murray Watt.
If he is satisfied that a specific area of significance is under threat, he may issue a legally binding order to protect it.
In a statement on Tuesday, a spokesperson from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water said the office was reviewing the application.
"The department is currently reviewing this application and will take all standard steps to progress it, including engaging with the applicant, the proponent and the Queensland government," they said.
However, in June the Queensland government passed legislation which would allow Olympic infrastructure projects, including Victoria Park, to bypass heritage protections and environmental laws.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie previously told Indigenous communities that the government would push ahead with the stadium build, regardless of support.
'Rather than just overruling those cultural heritage laws, I've actually put a provision in there that still honours those cultural heritage laws,' he said.
'But ultimately, if an agreement can't be reached with local Indigenous communities, then the laws will be overridden.'