Media Releases

Joint media statement regarding Tony Maddox Aboriginal Heritage appeal advertising

Advertising to raise awareness of, and support for, a Supreme Court appeal of charges laid under the Aboriginal Heritage Act will begin in commercial media this week. The Pastoralists and Graziers Association of Western Australia (PGA) and WAFarmers are supporting Mr Maddox with in-kind services only, no financial contribution. BACKGROUND Why are WAFarmers and the PGA supporting Tony Maddox? The Tony Maddox case has highlighted many shared concerns about the management of WA’s cultural heritage

Darren Brown February 2, 2026

Opinion Articles

Heritage by litigation: How Ben Wyatt is rewriting history to excuse a failed law

“WAFarmers are reaping what they sow,” Ben Wyatt declared recently, reflecting on the looming Maddox case and claims by WAFarmers that the current laws are being selectively targeted by the department (Heritage stoush ‘makes mockery of WA laws’ intent, The Australian, 20 January 2026). There is a curious habit among former ministers once they leave office: they rediscover principle. Mr Wyatt’s recent commentary on Aboriginal cultural heritage laws is a textbook example. Draped in the language

Trevor Whittington January 29, 2026

News Clippings

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

News Clippings

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

News Clippings

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

News Clippings

Forrest weir challenge: Anthropologist’s sacred site evidence questioned in tribunal

At the WA State Administrative Tribunal, Andrew Forrest and his former wife Nicola are challenging the state government’s refusal of their plan to build a series of weirs along the Ashburton River on their Minderoo Station in the Pilbara. The proposal is opposed by the Thalanyji people and the Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation (BTAC), who say the project would harm the spiritual and cultural significance of the river. During cross-examination, counsel for the Forrests, Kenneth

Darren Brown November 12, 2025

Aboriginal Heritage Act

Forrest weir challenge: Anthropologist’s sacred site evidence questioned in tribunal

Recent Posts

Archives

Archives

WHAT WE DO

ABOUT