Cultural heritage laws in Queensland
Check the Cultural heritage duty of care guidelines before undertaking any land-use activities.
Land users in Queensland need to comply with the following cultural heritage laws:
Purpose of the Cultural Heritage Acts
The main purpose of the Cultural Heritage Acts is to provide effective recognition, protection and conservation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage.
The Cultural Heritage Acts:
- provide blanket protection of areas and objects of traditional, customary, and archaeological significance
- recognise the key role of Traditional Owners in cultural heritage matters
- establish practical and flexible processes for dealing with cultural heritage in a timely manner.
Definitions
The Cultural Heritage Acts define Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage as anything that is:
- a significant Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander area in Queensland, or
- a significant Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander object in Queensland, or
- evidence of archaeological or historic significance, of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander occupation of an area of Queensland.
An area or object is significant because of either or both of the following:
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander tradition
- the history, including contemporary history, of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander party for the area.