EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Regulations (Amendment)
STATUTORY RULES 1990, No. 293
(Issued under the authority of the Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories)
The main purpose of the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 (the Heritage Act) is to retain in Australia those significant cultural objects which would represent an irreplaceable loss to the nation’s cultural heritage if exported. It also protects the cultural heritage of foreign countries by making unlawful exports from those countries subject to seizure and forfeiture if located in Australia.
The Heritage Act provides for a National Cultural Heritage Control List which defines the categories of objects that constitute the movable cultural heritage of Australia. The Control List is prescribed in Regulations.
Australian protected objects as defined in the Control List are subject to export control.
The existing Schedule came into effect on 1 July 1987 and was amended on 1 August 1988 and 29 May 1990.
The amendment to Part V of the National Cultural Heritage Control List in the Schedule changes the method of obtaining permit to export biological holotypes. The amendment was necessary to avoid duplicating the export control procedures established under the Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports Act 1982.
The National Cultural Heritage Committee, established pursuan to the Heritage Act, recommended this amendment.