The Aboriginal Heritage Council met for their regular monthly meeting on 22 July 2022 in Hobart.
Council considered three permit applications, resolving not to oppose the issuance of two permits with no conditions, and one permit with conditions.
Representatives of the City of Hobart, Carmen Salter, Senior Advisor, Community Engagement and Judith Abell, Public Art Coordinator, gave a presentation about the Crowther Reinterpreted Project. The Council’s website states:
The City's Aboriginal Commitment and Action Plan, sets out a commitment to visibility and truth telling across the city, with an action under this commitment being:
Undertake an interpretation project to tell the layered story of Crowther in Franklin Square.
The Council were pleased that the truth telling process is occurring in public spaces in Hobart. They were also reassured to hear that the Crowther Reinterpreted Project is the beginning of change and that there are plans for further truth telling about other colonial tributes in Hobart’s public spaces.
The AHT policy team provided a briefing on the Government’s proposed amendments to the Aboriginal Lands Act and answered questions. The aim of the presentation and discussion was to provide information to Council, and to Council members, so that they could communicate back to the communities they represent. There will also be further consultation after the draft consultation bill is released at the end of the year.
In Other Business, Council agreed to hold a meeting in the North East of Tasmania and include a visit to the proposed site of the North East Wind farm project. There was also discussion about the possibility of Council members visiting cave sites in the TWWHA early next year.
The next meeting of the Aboriginal Heritage Council will be held on Friday 26 August 2022 in Hobart.