EXAMINER JUNE 11 2020

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The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery will begin consultation with the state's Aboriginal community in the next few weeks to negotiate the return of sacred relics to them.

The museum's board in December decided to return petroglyphs cut from stone on the North-West Coast once necessary arrangements and approvals were in place in accordance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act. ............................ The City of Launceston council at its ordinary meeting on Thursday will also decide whether petroglyphs held by the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery will be repatriated. ............................ TMAG director Janet Carding on Wednesday said the museum was undertaking the community consultation required under the Aboriginal Heritage Act so the TMAG board could apply for a permit to move the relics. ............................ She said discussions were underway to work out how the artefacts could be returned and where they would be returned to. ............................ Ms Carding said she had a series on consultation meetings scheduled over the next few weeks with various Tasmanian Aboriginal organisations. ............................ "I'll be getting their feedback, I'll be compiling a report, and that will go into the permit application," she said. ............................ "As soon as we put the permit application in, we hope there will be a swift resolution. ............................ "I appreciate that it is a matter of anxiety for some people that it has taken some time." ............................ Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania chairman Michael Mansell said the complex process was due to antiquated legislation which was under review. ............................ "We're at a stalemate," he said. ............................ "The act isn't working properly." ............................ Mr Mansell said despite some stalling in the repatriation process, he remained confident the Aboriginal community would have the petroglyphs returned to them in September. ............................ However, Ms Carding said she could not commit to a return by then. ............................ "We need to make sure we do the consultation properly," she said. ............................ Launceston council's cultural services general manager, Tracy Puklowski, wrote in Thursday's meeting agenda there were a range of opinions held by different Aboriginal groups as to the best outcome for the petroglyphs. ............................ She said these ranged from relocation to the area where they were found to display for future generations.

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Land handbacks discussed with Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein Matt Maloney National

 Land returns were discussed between Premier Peter Gutwein and Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania chairman Michael Mansell on Wednesday for the first time since Mr Gutwein took leadership. ............................ After the meeting, Mr Mansell expressed positivity that the pair could form an effective working relationships to sort out issues that still aggrieved the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. ............................ He said there would be another meeting with the Premier in July to further discuss the list of options for genuine reconciliation put to him, such as dedicated seats in Tasmanian Parliament. ............................ "What I've put to them is something we can collectively work towards," he said. "He seems to be onboard in wanting to do something. ............................ "What it is, he didn't say, but there was a big difference between talking to him and other Liberal ministers over the years when you know that you are not getting through to them." ............................ Mr Mansell said it was his view the government's review of land handbacks was a stalling process. ............................ He said he expected the next stage on land returns would be further discussed at the July meeting. ............................ Mr Mansell said it had been 15 years since the last land return by the government. ............................ Mr Gutwein said the government was committed to improving social, cultural and economic outcomes for the state's Aboriginal people. ............................ He said Wednesday's meeting had been constructive. ............................ "We discussed a number of matters including the return of petroglyphs, joint land management and the future of land handback arrangements along with other matters," Mr Gutwein said.