Victorian Numbered Acts

ABORIGINAL HERITAGE ACT 2006 (NO 16 OF 2006)

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   PART 1--PRELIMINARY

   1.      Purpose  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Objectives  
   4.      Definitions  
   5.      What is an Aboriginal place?  
   6.      Who is a native title party for an area?  
   7.      Traditional or familial links  
   8.      Heritage significance not affected by damage  
   9.      Act does not affect operation of Coroners Act 1985  
   10.     Native title rights and interests  
   11.     Act binds the Crown  

   PART 2--OWNERSHIP AND CUSTODY OF ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE

           Division 1--Underlying Principles

   12.     Principles  

           Division 2--Aboriginal Human Remains

   13.     Ownership of Aboriginal human remains  
   14.     Aboriginal human remains in custody of State  
   15.     Return and custody of Aboriginal human remains by Museums Board  
   16.     Return of Aboriginal human remains by other entities  
   17.     Reporting Aboriginal human remains  
   18.     Secretary must determine how to act on report  
   19.     Transfer of Aboriginal human remains to Secretary  
   20.     What must the Secretary do with transferred remains?  

           Division 3--Secret or Sacred Aboriginal Objects

   21.     Ownership of secret or sacred objects  
   22.     Return of secret or sacred objects by State entity  
   23.     Return of secret or sacred objects by other entities  

           Division 4--Aboriginal Places and Objects

   24.     Reporting discovery of Aboriginal places and objects  
   25.     Continued use of surface of land  

           Division 5--Role of the Museums Board of Victoria

   26.     Role of Museums Board of Victoria  

   PART 3--PROTECTION OF ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE

           Division 1--Protection from Harm

   27.     Harming Aboriginal cultural heritage unlawful  
   28.     Doing an act likely to harm Aboriginal cultural heritage unlawful  
   29.     When is harm permitted?  
   30.     Order to repair or restore Aboriginal cultural heritage  

           Division 2--Acquisition and Grant of Land

   31.     Acquisition of Aboriginal place  
   32.     Grant of land  

           Division 3--Control of Activities

   33.     Possession of Aboriginal object  
   34.     Control of activities  
   35.     Forfeiture of Aboriginal object to Crown  

           Division 4--Cultural Heritage Permits

   36.     Application for cultural heritage permit  
   37.     Restrictions on grant of permit  
   38.     Referral of application to registered Aboriginal party  
   39.     Action by registered Aboriginal party on application  
   40.     Determination of application  
   41.     Conditions on cultural heritage permits  

   PART 4--CULTURAL HERITAGE MANAGEMENT PLANS

           Division 1--What is a Cultural Heritage Management Plan?

   42.     What is a cultural heritage management plan?  
   43.     Procedure for assessment  
   44.     Who may prepare a plan?  
   45.     Voluntary cultural heritage management plan  
   46.     Mandatory cultural heritage management plans  
   47.     Regulations may require plan  
   48.     Minister may require plan  
   49.     Plan required if Environment Effects Statement required  

           Division 3--Other Authorisations Suspended UntilPlan Prepared

   50.     Definitions  
   51.     Application of Division  
   52.     Plan must be prepared before authorisation given  

           Division 4--Preparation of Cultural HeritageManagement Plans

   53.     Cultural heritage management plan to be prepared in accordance with prescribed standards  
   54.     Notice of intention to prepare cultural heritage management plan  
   55.     Registered Aboriginal parties may elect to evaluate plan  
   56.     Sponsor to notify Secretary of intention of registered Aboriginal party  
   57.     Newly registered Aboriginal parties  
   58.     Engagement of cultural heritage advisor  
   59.     Obligations of sponsor and registered Aboriginal party  
   60.     Registered Aboriginal party may also advise  

           Division 5--Approval of Cultural HeritageManagement Plans

   61.     Matters to be considered in relation to a plan  
   62.     Application to registered Aboriginal party for approval  
   63.     Decision by registered Aboriginal party  
   64.     When does a plan approved by a registered Aboriginal party take effect?  
   65.     Approval by Secretary  
   66.     Approval by Council  

           Division 6--General

   67.     Sponsor must give assessment documentation to Secretary  

   PART 5--CULTURAL HERITAGE AGREEMENTS

           Division 1--Making and Amendment of Agreements

   68.     What is a cultural heritage agreement?  
   69.     Parties to a cultural heritage agreement  
   70.     Form of cultural heritage agreement  
   71.     Amendment of cultural heritage agreement  
   72.     Agreement of no effect without consent of registered Aboriginal parties  
   73.     When does a cultural heritage agreement begin?  
   74.     When does a cultural heritage agreement end?  

           Division 2--Lodgement and Registration of Agreements

   75.     Cultural heritage agreements to be lodged with Secretary  
   76.     Registration of cultural heritage agreements  
   77.     Effect of registration  
   78.     Governor in Council may release covenant  
   79.     Cancellation or amendment of registration  

   PART 6--CULTURAL HERITAGE AUDITS AND STOP ORDERS

           Division 1--Cultural Heritage Audits

   80.     What is a cultural heritage audit?  
   81.     When can a cultural heritage audit be ordered?  
   82.     Requirement of cultural heritage audit  
   83.     Conduct of cultural heritage audit  
   84.     Report of cultural heritage audit  
   85.     Approval of report of audit  
   86.     Notification and effect of approval  

           Division 2--Stop Orders

   87.     When can a stop order be issued?  
   88.     Stop order required for cultural heritage audit  
   89.     What can a stop order do?  
   90.     How is a stop order delivered?  
   91.     How long does a stop order operate?  
   92.     Extension of stop order  
   93.     Revocation of stop order  
   94.     Further stop order  
   95.     Offence to fail to comply with stop order  

   PART 7--PROTECTION DECLARATIONS

           Division 1--Interim Protection Declarations

   96.     Interim protection declarations  
   97.     What must an interim protection declaration provide for?  
   98.     Period of interim protection declaration  
   99.     Amendment or revocation of interim protection declaration  
   100.    Minister to consult  
   101.    Publication of declaration  
   102.    Offence to contravene interim protection declaration  

           Division 2--Ongoing Protection Declarations

   103.    Ongoing protection declarations  
   104.    What must an ongoing protection declaration provide for?  
   105.    Amendment or revocation of ongoing protection declaration  
   106.    Minister to consult  
   107.    Publication of declaration  
   108.    Offence to contravene ongoing protection declaration  

           Division 3--General

   109.    Declaration has effect  
   110.    Notices relating to declarations  

   PART 8--DISPUTES REGARDING ABORIGINAL CULTURAL HERITAGE

           Division 1--Disputes Regarding Cultural Heritage Management Plans

              Subdivision 1--Alternative
              Dispute Resolution

   111.    Meaning of "dispute"  
   112.    What alternative dispute resolution includes  
   113.    Referral of disputes for alternative dispute resolution  
   114.    Costs of alternative dispute resolution  
   115.    Statements made during alternative dispute resolution not admissible  

              Subdivision 2--Dispute
              Resolution in VCAT

   116.    Sponsor may apply to VCAT  
   117.    Parties to proceeding  
   118.    Decision of VCAT  
   119.    VCAT to consider certain matters  
   120.    VCAT to be satisfied of certain matters  

           Division 2--Disputes Regarding Cultural Heritage Permits

   121.    Applicant for cultural heritage permit may apply to VCAT  
   122.    Parties to proceeding  
   123.    Decision of VCAT  
   124.    VCAT to be satisfied of certain matters  

           Division 3--Disputes Regarding Protection Declaration Decisions

   125.    What is a protection declaration decision?  
   126.    Review of protection declaration decisions  
   127.    Parties to proceeding  
   128.    Decision of VCAT  
   129.    VCAT to have regard to certain matters  

   PART 9--ADMINISTRATION

           Division 1--Aboriginal Heritage Council

   130.    Establishment of Council  
   131.    Membership  
   132.    Functions of the Council  
   133.    Functions of the Chairperson  
   134.    Payment of members  
   135.    Resignation and removal  
   136.    Acting members  
   137.    Co-opted members  
   138.    Election of Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson  
   139.    Procedure of the Council  
   140.    Effect of a vacancy or defect  
   141.    Immunity from liability  
   142.    Conflict of interest  

           Division 2--The Secretary

   143.    Functions of the Secretary  

           Division 3--Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register

   144.    Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register  
   145.    What is in the Register?  
   146.    Who may access the Register?  
   147.    Secretary may provide advice to persons or bodies seeking access to Register  

   PART 10--REGISTERED ABORIGINAL PARTIES

           Division 1--Functions of Registered Aboriginal Parties

   148.    Functions of a registered Aboriginal party  
   149.    Registered Aboriginal party must act in good faith  

           Division 2--Application and Registration

   150.    Application for registration  
   151.    Determination of application for registration  
   152.    Effect of determination  
   153.    Parties for area  
   154.    Notice of determination  
   155.    Variation of registration  
   156.    Suspension and revocation of registration  
   157.    Procedure for suspension or revocation of registration  
   158.    Review of decisions of the Council  

   PART 11--ENFORCEMENT

           Division 1--Inspectors

   159.    Functions of inspectors  
   160.    Appointment of inspectors  
   161.    Re-appointment of inspectors  
   162.    Suspension and revocation of appointment  
   163.    Cessation of appointment  
   164.    Identity cards  
   165.    Inspector to produce identity card  

           Division 2--Powers of Inspectors

   166.    General power to enter land or premises  
   167.    Obtaining the consent of the occupier  
   168.    Power to enter land or premises open to public  
   169.    Power to enter land or premises for audit  
   170.    Search powers upon entry  
   171.    Seizure powers on entry without search warrant  
   172.    Seizure power without consent  
   173.    Search warrants  
   174.    Announcement before entry  
   175.    Copy of search warrant to be given to occupier  
   176.    Receipt for seized things  
   177.    Security of seized things  
   178.    Seizure of Aboriginal human remains or object  
   179.    Return of seized things  
   180.    Inspector may require giving of name and address  
   181.    Inspector may require information  
   182.    Inspector may take affidavits  
   183.    Person must not give false information etc.  

           Division 3--General

   184.    Report to be given about entry  
   185.    Person must not impersonate, obstruct or hinder inspector  
   186.    Who may prosecute?  
   187.    Evidence  

   PART 12--GENERAL

   188.    Delegation  
   189.    Cultural heritage advisor  
   190.    Approval of forms  
   191.    Tax and rate remissions  
   192.    Report on operation of Act  
   193.    Review of operation of Act  
   194.    Regulations  

   PART 13--REPEAL, SAVING AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS AND AMENDMENT OF ACTS

   195.    Repeal  
   196.    Saving and transitional provisions  
   197.    Amendment of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998  
   198.    Consequential amendments  
           SCHEDULE 1
           SCHEDULE 2
           ENDNOTES