The Wandjina case demonstrates the lack of protection for Indigenous culture Robyn Ayres The Law Report on ABC’s Radio National recently ran a storyi about a gallery in the Blue Mountains which has erected a large outside sculpture featuring Wandjinas, the creation spirit sacred to three Aboriginal tribes in the Kimberley in Western Australiaii. The gallery, in a separate initiative is also encouraging artists to create their own Wandjinas through the Wanjina Rising Dream Art Competition. In the face of criticism gallery owner, Vesna Tenodi, is unapologetic believing she has been chosen to revive the Wandjinas in the Blue Mountains and does not accept the cultural concerns raised by the traditional owners of the Kimberley regioniii. This case highlights the current gaps in protection provided to Indigenous cultural and intellectual property (ICIP) under Australian laws. To date, in relation the Wandjina case, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has stated it is unable to take the matter any further on behalf of the Kimberley Aboriginal elders, there being insufficient grounds under section 52 of the Trade Practices Act which prohibits misleading and deceptive conduct. The Copyright Act also does not provide any assistance. First, the works created by the gallery are likely to be considered sufficiently "original" only taking their inspiration from the Wandjinas rather than being copied. Secondly, as many of the Wandjinas found in rock art are ancient, the copyright period of life plus 70 years has long expired so they are therefore considered to be in the public domain. Given the offence the Katoomba sculpture and gallery has caused not only to the Kimberley traditional owners, but also many of the local Aboriginal community in the Blue Mountains, the gallery’s development applications (DAs) to the local shire council under the planning laws for its sculpture park and gallery, have been opposed. The outcome of the DA process is as yet unknown. This case highlights the pressing need for better protection of Indigenous cultural and intellectual property in Australia. Whilst Arts Law understands that the Australian Government has been examining the current legislative and other measures in place in order to identify the gaps in protection availableiv, another initiative of the Government to improve understanding and awareness of Indigenous intellectual property (IIP) issues is the development of an IIP toolkit.

Solid Arts – the Indigenous Intellectual Property Toolkit Arts Law has been contracted by the Cultural Ministers Council to develop the Indigenous Intellectual Property Toolkit, to be known as Solid Arts, over the next three years. The Solid Arts toolkit will include:  The Solid Arts website which will include case studies and provide a portal for users wanting information about IIP. It will be launched before the end of 2010;  Short audio recordings for radio play in English and Indigenous languages about various IIP issues which will also be available for download through the website;  A DVD dealing with a range of IIP issues again using various case studies which will also be available through the website;  Posters for Indigenous artists on IIP issues;  Information for consumers and commercial operators; and  A face to face education program for key stakeholder groups.

* Robyn Ayres is the executive director of Arts Law i ABC Law Report, Wading into the Wandjina controversy 29 June 2010 http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lawreport/stories/2010/2939168.htm?site= brisbane ii http://www.mowanjumarts.com/aboutus.html iii Tenodi’s manifesto http://modrogorje.com/manifesto.html iv Communication with Director within DEWHA 29 July 2010.