Tony Maddox at the Perth Supreme Court. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The West Australian

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Countryman: Toodyay landholder Tony Maddox fronts court for Aboriginal Land Heritage Act 1972 appeal

Toodyay landholder Tony Maddox fought back tears before heading into WA’s Supreme Court to appeal a criminal conviction for building a culvert on his private land on Friday. Maddox, a former real estate agent, was convicted under the Aboriginal Land Heritage Act 1972 last year after he was charged and fined $2000 for repairing an existing creek crossing on his property, without knowing part of his land had been designated a site of cultural significance.

Darren Brown February 24, 2026

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7News Regional: Tony Maddox Supreme Court Appeal

Darren Brown February 20, 2026

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Farm Weekly: Court case to defend rights of everyone

When Tony Maddox walks into the Supreme Court tomorrow, Friday, February 20, supporters say he will be carrying more than his own defence. He will be testing how Aboriginal heritage law applies to freehold farmland across WA. The Toodyay farmer has pursued a judge-only appeal against his conviction for breaching WA’s unamended Aboriginal Heritage Act (ACHA) 1972, after undertaking works on a creek crossing at his property in 2022. Found guilty in the Magistrates Court

Darren Brown February 19, 2026

Tony Maddox was charged by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage after concreting his gravel crossing. Credit: Olivia Ford

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Countryman: Calls from peak farming bodies for Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Committee transparency

The following article was published by The Countryman newspaper today Calls from peak farming bodies for Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Committee transparency Georgia Campion WA’s peak farming bodies have called for the State Government to lift the lid on what they say is the secretive work of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Committee, which meets every two weeks to determine places of cultural significance. WAFarmers and the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA’s call comes as Toodyay

Darren Brown February 10, 2026

Toodyay landholder Tony Maddox. Credit: Iain Gillespie/The West Australian

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The Countryman: WAFarmers, PGA double down on Tony Maddox support as he prepares to head to Supreme Court

The following article appeared today on The Countryman newspaper website today. WAFarmers, PGA double down on Tony Maddox support as he prepares to head to Supreme Court Cally Dupe | Countryman WA’s two main agricultural lobby groups have doubled down on their support for Toodyay landholder Tony Maddox, while reassuring members that no levy or membership funds are being used to fight his case. WAFarmers and the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of Western Australia said

Darren Brown February 4, 2026

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ABC Country Hour interview with Trevor Whittington re Sheep Industry roadmap

“Well, this is the roadmap that’s been on the road for a long time” That’s how WAFarmers’ CEO Trevor Whittington started his interview with ABC WA Country Hour host Belinda Varischetti today in response to her question about the clarity of the Federal Government’s WA roadmap out of the live sheep trade. The interview took place while Trevor was attending an industry workshop in Perth, where he said more talking was wasting valuable time: “It’s

Darren Brown January 28, 2026

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Farm Weekly: KC joins Maddox property rights appeal

The following article was published in the Farm Weekly today KING’S Counsel Mark Trowell has joined the fight to overturn charges laid on Toodyay farmer Tony Maddox for repairing a creek crossing without knowing he had to apply for the minister’s approval. Mr Maddox is hoping Mr Trowell’s experience will undo the precedent that could open the floodgates for hundreds of others to be charged for unknowingly breaching cultural heritage laws. “This is a case of bureaucracy

Darren Brown January 22, 2026

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ABC Country Hour interview with Steve McGuire re Aboriginal Heritage Regulations and application

The wonderful team at ABC WA Country Hour presented a solid story today around the WAFarmers’ allegation that multiple corporations have breached the same law that Toodyay farmer Tony Maddox was charged with for repairing a creek crossing on his property. During the interview with ABC presenter Nadia Mitsopoulos, WAFarmers’ President Steve McGuire explains that while the law and regulations are not perfect, the way the Department applied them to convict Mr Maddox is an

Darren Brown January 20, 2026

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The Australian: Heritage stoush ‘makes mockery of laws’ intent’

News summary: Heritage stoush ‘makes mockery of laws’ intent’ Western Australia’s Aboriginal heritage laws have come under fire for what critics say is bureaucratic overreach that undermines their original intent. In an excellent article published today in The Australian newspaper, Paige Taylor explains that WAFarmers has launched a campaign highlighting how the legislation makes it a criminal offence to publish photographs of registered heritage sites without ministerial approval, even when those images appear on Google

Darren Brown January 20, 2026

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ABC radio interview with Trevor Whittington regarding Gov’t buy-back of rail freight network

WAFarmers’ CEO Trevor Whittington was interviewed by ABC Mornings host Nadia Mitsopoulos this morning about the issues behind our campaign to hold the WA State Government to its promise to “buy back” WA’s rail freight network. Also, read Trevor’s excellent Opinion article on the issue here: Time for action: WA’s rail Buy-Back promise cannot wait Listen to the informative interview on the audio player or via the URL below: Click here if the player above doesn’t

Darren Brown January 13, 2026

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