Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006

The Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 of Victoria, Australia was enacted "to provide for the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage in Victoria." It established Registered Aboriginal Parties to act as the "primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal cultural heritage." They protect and manage the Aboriginal cultural heritage in Victoria, Australia.^[1][2]

Objectives

The objectives, stated in Section 3 of the Act, are:^[3]

• "to recognise, protect and conserve Aboriginal cultural heritage in Victoria in ways that are based on respect for Aboriginal knowledge and cultural and traditional practices;
• to recognise Aboriginal people as the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal cultural heritage;
• to accord appropriate status to Aboriginal people with traditional or familial links with Aboriginal cultural heritage in protecting that heritage;
• to promote the management of Aboriginal cultural heritage as an integral part of land and natural resource
• to promote public awareness and understanding of Aboriginal cultural heritage in Victoria;
• to establish an Aboriginal cultural heritage register to record Aboriginal cultural
• to establish processes for the timely and efficient assessment of activities that have the potential to harm Aboriginal cultural heritage;
• to promote the use of agreements that provide for the management and protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage;
• to establish mechanisms that enable the resolution of disputes relating to the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage;
• to provide appropriate sanctions and penalties to prevent harm to Aboriginal cultural heritage."

References