The Australian government is deeply disappointed about the destruction of Indigenous sacred sites at Juukan Gorge in Western Australia. This matter has already been referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia for inquiry, and the government will await the findings of that inquiry.

This was an action approved under section 18 of the WA Aboriginal Heritage Act. The Western Australian government has commenced a review of that act, and the Australian government is committed to ensuring that Commonwealth law provides the right protections for Indigenous cultural heritage. This is being considered through the current independent review of the EPBC Act 1999.