Comment on claims about old Swan Brewery site

Heritage Minister Jim McGinty says the significance of the Old Swan Brewery and its surrounds to both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people will be fully considered in any decision on the future use of the site. 

Mr McGinty was commenting on claims by Mr Robert Bropho that a recent independent assessment of the site had ignored Aboriginal beliefs. 

"The assessment was carried out for the Heritage Council of Western Australia - which has been asked to make recommendations to Government on the European cultural significance of the buildings and their surrounds," Mr McGinty said. 

"Pre-European Aboriginal heritage is a matter covered by the Aboriginal Heritage Act and the significance of the area to the Aboriginal people is already well documented - with a number of studies already carried out on this exact issue. 

"However, an extensive assessment of the buildings had not been undertaken - although the National Trust did consider the site but failed to determine the age of the buildings. 

"The Trust did not classify the buildings because it could not be sure of their authenticity. 

"For this reason, the Heritage Council is looking at the post-colonial history of the site - it is not an attempt to ignore Aboriginal beliefs." 

Mr McGinty said the Heritage Council was expected to present its findings to him later this month. 

"Any decision by the Government will be made with equal consideration to both the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage values of the buildings and site," Mr McGinty said.