Western Australia to bin 2021 Aboriginal heritage protection laws

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) -Western Australia will overturn its 2021 Aboriginal cultural heritage protection laws set down after the destruction of the ancient Juukan Gorge rock shelters, in response to opposition from landowners, the state's premier said on Tuesday.

Farmers, pastoralists and small landowners have been up in arms over what they say is onerous and costly regulation put in place after Rio Tinto legally destroyed rock shelters that had shown human habitation stretching back 46,000 years.