Heritage

Laws and public notices

Indigenous heritage laws

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 establishes the National Heritage List, which includes natural, Indigenous and historic places that are of outstanding heritage value to the nation. Under the EPBC Act there are penalties for anyone who takes an action that has or will have a significant impact on the Indigenous heritage values of a place that is recognised in the National Heritage List.

The Act also establishes the Commonwealth Heritage List, which includes places on Commonwealth lands and waters or under Australian Government control that have Indigenous heritage significance.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act

The purpose of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 is the preservation and protection from injury or desecration of areas and objects in Australia and in Australian waters that are of particular significance to Aboriginals in accordance with Aboriginal tradition.

The Australian Government is currently reforming this legislation to improve the effectiveness of Indigenous heritage protection across the country.

Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act

The Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 includes legislation that prevents objects of cultural heritage significance, such as those that are sacred to Indigenous people's heritage, from being exported out of Australia. This helps to ensure these special objects, important to our Indigenous heritage, are not lost to the nation.

Protection under state and territory laws

All states and territories have legislation that provides blanket protection to Indigenous archaeological sites.

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