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Gov't accused of playing down Aboriginal rock art destruction

20 June 2006 - An organisation which works to conserve Australia's Indigenous and historic heritage says Western Australia's Resources Minister has been misinformed about the number of Aboriginal rock art carvings destroyed on the Burrup Peninsula in the state's north-west.

The Minister, John Bowler, says up to 4 per cent have been ruined.

burrup rock art photo courtesy FARA

But the National Trust of Australia says it is up to 15 per cent.

The Trust says nearly 5,000 artworks have been destroyed since monitoring began in 1972 and the same number was destroyed before recording began.

Robin Chapple says the State Government is trying to play down the issue.

"It's a bit like sort of saying, 'well we can destroy these Rembrandts because there's lots of Vincent Van Goghs left'," he said.

"It's a bit of a nonsense to actually say that we can destroy material - we wouldn't destroy Stonehenge, we wouldn't destroy the pyramids and this material is four times older."

Source:ABC

Further information: burrup issues page - includes news index and external links