Does Murray Watt Have the Power to Protect Victoria Park Barrambin?
In an ABC Radio Brisbane interview from 1 June 2026, Environment Minister Murray Watt was at pains to say that declarations under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act are not simply “stop work orders” and that the decision to build the stadium belongs to the Queensland Government.
That is only part of the story.
Minister Watt may not have the power to cancel the Queensland Government’s stadium project as a planning decision. But the Act gives him very real discretionary powers to protect a significant Aboriginal area from injury or desecration. Under Sections 9 and 10, if the statutory tests are met, the Minister may make a declaration containing provisions for the protection and preservation of that area.
And Murray Watt himself acknowledged exactly what that can mean.
When asked whether construction could be halted, he said: “one way that could be achieved is by stopping work.” He also acknowledged that a declaration could require the Queensland Government to alter the stadium or precinct to protect cultural heritage.
So let’s stop pretending the Federal Government is powerless.
The Act exists precisely because there are circumstances where Aboriginal cultural heritage requires federal intervention. It defines injury or desecration broadly, including where something done in, on or near an area adversely affects its significance in accordance with Aboriginal tradition. Its stated purpose is the preservation and protection of significant Aboriginal areas from that harm.
There is even a separate emergency mechanism under Section 18 allowing an authorised officer to make a declaration lasting up to 48 hours where injury or desecration is likely to occur before a Section 9 declaration can be made.
Murray Watt does have power. The question is whether he is prepared to use it.
Passing responsibility back to the Queensland Government while trees fall and Country is damaged is not enough.
If Barrambin meets the tests under the Act, the Federal Government has the ability to impose protections strong enough to stop work affecting that protected area.
Minister Watt: protect what remains.