Aboriginal Heritage Legislation

Victoria’s Aboriginal heritage legislation outlines the responsibilities that all people have to protect Victoria’s unique Aboriginal heritage values.
The Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 has four key objectives:

1. to provide for the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage and Aboriginal intangible heritage in Victoria; 
2. to empower Traditional Owners as protectors of their cultural heritage on behalf of Aboriginal people and all other peoples; 
3. to strengthen the ongoing right to maintain the distinctive spiritual, cultural, material and economic relationship of Traditional Owners with the land and waters and other resources with which they have a connection under traditional laws and customs; 
4. to promote respect for Aboriginal cultural heritage, contributing to its protection as part of the common heritage of all peoples and to the sustainable development and management of land and of the environment.

Under the Act, it is an offence to harm Aboriginal cultural heritage, even unknowingly. Parks Victoria has processes in place to make sure we identify and protect cultural heritage as we go about the business of park management.

For more information about the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 and what it means for Traditional Owners, land managers and park users, visit the Aboriginal Victoria website.