WA rules out veto power for traditional owners Save Share Western Australiaâs Labor government has ruled out giving traditional owners the power to veto mining activity, despite Indigenous leaders renewing calls for such power on the anniversary of Rio Tinto destroying Juukan Gorge. The impasse over veto powers threatens to derail WAâs long-awaited introduction of new Aboriginal heritage legislation to replace the 50-year-old laws that Rio used to gain government approval to blast Juukan Gorge last May. WA Aboriginal Affairs Minister Stephen Dawson discussed the veto powers with the stateâs biggest native title groups last week. Â Peter de Kruijff