Following the demise of the Cook Government’s attempts to reform the Aboriginal Heritage Act and the Premier himself making a po-faced apology and admission of guilt over their lack of transparency, those invested in the laws are dismayed the once-effective legislation may have lost its efficacy.

Australian Archeological Association president Doctor Joe Dortch told Gary Adshead on 6PR Mornings from their perspective the motive was in the right place, but not the implementation.

Press PLAY to hear more about the fallout from the Heritage Laws cancellation

“It was overly complex, but it had its good sides and a lot of us had put a lot of good faith and hard work into trying to make something of that,” Professor Dortch said.

“Could they have just been worked on four or five years go as opposed to the creation of a whole new set of laws that just became too confusing and too worrisome? Yes, to a point.”

Association of Mining and Exploration Companies chief Warren Peace told Gary the issues surrounding the damage to Juukan Gorge may have been prevented by properly robust legislation.

“We had to go back to government and say we are seeking change, but at that point we certainly weren’t calling for the act to be scrapped and to start again,” Mr Peace said.

Press PLAY to hear from the mining industry on the state of the heritage laws