Juukan Gorge law backflip is Roger Cook in damage control mode, but the risks remain

Governments don't often backflip on major policies. So speculation around the WA government scrapping its controversial Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act shows just how worried Premier Roger Cook and his colleagues are about the continued damage the laws seem to be having. The cultural heritage saga had been linked to the Voice by sections of the community and proved confusing for some — so this weekend's change will almost certainly make the Yes campaign's job easier. "It was going to allow better negotiations and genuine community partnership agreements, better accountability and transparency and most importantly protection of Aboriginal heritage," South West Land and Sea Council board member Michelle Nelson-Cox said. The government's got an opportunity to fix what many have seen as one of its biggest mistakes, while still protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage.