Legal

Update on Tony Maddox court case

The Supreme Court is expected to hand down its decision mid-year in the appeal brought by Toodyay farmer Tony Maddox – a case that has become a test of how Western Australia’s Aboriginal Heritage laws are applied to ordinary landholders. Last Friday the Supreme Court heard that the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage did not notify anyone that all the tributaries of the Avon River were being considered for inclusion on the government’s Register

Darren Brown February 26, 2026

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

News Clippings

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

News Clippings

7News Regional: Tony Maddox Supreme Court Appeal

Darren Brown February 20, 2026

News Clippings

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

Media Releases

Land Titles must show Aboriginal Heritage

WA’s peak agricultural bodies are demanding that the government make immediate changes to ensure existing and new Aboriginal Heritage sites are shown on property Titles. The call comes ahead of a Supreme Court appeal by Toodyay farmer Tony Maddox who was charged for repairing a creek crossing on his property against the Aboriginal Heritage Act, despite not being told a “Site” had been declared on his land. WAFarmers President Steve McGuire said the Department of

Darren Brown February 13, 2026

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

News Clippings

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

Media Releases

Peak bodies call for immediate changes to ensure full transparency in Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Committee

The PGA and WAFarmers have called on the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) to immediately deliver full public transparency of the work undertaken by the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Committee (ACHC). WAFarmers President Steve McGuire said members of the ACHC meets every two weeks and are paid by the government to decide – ‘on behalf of the community’ – places of cultural significance and advise the Minister about questions related to the Act. “There

Darren Brown February 6, 2026

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

News Clippings

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

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

Tony Maddox

Recent Posts

Archives

Archives

WHAT WE DO

ABOUT