A prominent Tasmanian businessman has been fined $12,000 this week after being found guilty of interfering with Aboriginal relics on his east coast property.
Graeme Elphinstone, founder of Elphinstone Engineering, avoided a conviction despite being found guilty last year on nine counts of interfering with Aboriginal relics at his Little Swanport property.
The Hobart Magistrates Court heard that Elphinstone conducted vegetation clearing without a permit in January 2023.
Magistrate Reg Marron told the court that while Elphinstone should have known the area was a significant site, he did not damage, deface or remove artefacts.
Speaking outside court, Elphinstone maintained he was unaware of the site’s significance.
“Nothing was shown to me that it was an Aboriginal heritage place and I was just cleaning up a mess that was actually caused and left by vandals who broke into our property,” he told 7NEWS.
In his sentencing, Magistrate Marron considered Elphinstone’s lack of prior convictions, good character, and significant contributions to the east coast community.
Elphinstone’s company at Triabunna is known for developing logging trailers and has been servicing the transport industry since 1976.
