Parks Australia has been slapped with a $200,000 fine after the Commonwealth agency pleaded guilty to damaging a sacred site at Gunlom Falls during construction of a pathway in 2019, the largest fine on record under sacred sites laws.

Judge Elizabeth Morris, who imposed the fine after a sacred men’s site was revealed at Gunlom Falls in Kakadu National Park, acknowledged that while the agency wasn’t wilfully dismissive of the Jawoyn people’s interests, it failed to carry out proper consultation to prevent cultural disturbance.

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