Australian mining state passes Aboriginal heritage protection law

FILE PHOTO: Aboriginal groups' members take part in a protest against what they say is a lack of detail and consultation on new heritage protection laws, after the Rio Tinto mining group destroyed ancient rock shelters for an iron ore mine last year, in Perth, Australia August 19, 2021. Courtesy Gabrielle Timmins/Kimberley Land Council/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Legislators have introduced better protection for Aboriginal heritage in the mining state of Western Australia but indigenous groups said it did not go far enough and are counting on changes at the national level.

Protection has become a major issue after global miner Rio Tinto triggered outrage in 2020 after legally destroying culturally significant rock shelters that dated back more than 46,000 years for an iron ore mine.