EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Regulations (Amendment)
STATUTORY RULES 1990. No. 350
(Issued under the authority of the Minister for the Arts, Tourism and Territories)
The main purpose of the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 (the Heritage Act) is to control the export of cultural heritage material so as to retain in Australia those significant cultural objects which would represent an irreplaceable loss to the nation if exported.
The Heritage Act provides for a National Cultural Heritage Control List (the List) which defines the categories of objects that constitute the movable cultural heritage of Australia. The List is prescribed in Regulations.
Australian protected objects as defined in the List are subject to export control.
The existing Schedule came into effect on 1 July 1987 and was amended on 1 August 1988, 29 May and 13 September 1990.
The Regulation further amends Part V of the Schedule to provide for the removal from the List of those holotypes whose export takes place either under a permit or an authority pursuant to the Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982. The amendment avoids the duplication of export control under both the Heritage Act and the Wildlife Act.
The National Cultural Heritage Committee, established pursuant to the Heritage Act, recommended this amendment.