Email: CHA_Review@dsdsatsip.qld.gov.au
Phone number: 1800 469 166
Opportunities to improve cultural heritage protection
Opportunities to improve cultural heritage protection through increased consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including intangible cultural heritage, and strengthening compliance mechanisms.
A suite of proposals (both legislative and non-legislative) has been developed to increase the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in managing and protecting their cultural heritage, and strengthen existing compliance mechanisms, as well as introduce new compliance mechanisms.
See the proposed Cultural Heritage Assessment Framework here.
Reframing the definitions of Aboriginal party and Torres Strait Islander party
Reframing the definitions of Aboriginal party and Torres Strait Islander party so that people who have a connection to an area under Aboriginal tradition or Ailan Kastom have an opportunity to be involved in cultural heritage management and protection.
Option 1: Proposed changes in areas of Queensland where there is no registered native title holder or registered native title claimant
In these areas:
Party status applications would be reviewed by a First Nations independent decision-making body.
Option 2 : Proposed changes in areas of Queensland where the Aboriginal Party or Torres Strait Islander party is a previously registered native title claimant subject to a negative determination
In these areas:
Promoting leadership by First Nations peoples
Promoting leadership by First Nations peoples in cultural heritage management and decision making.
Proposal 1
Establish a First Nations-led entity with responsibilities for managing and protecting cultural heritage in Queensland. The entity could work with existing or future local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups who manage cultural heritage matters within their respective areas.
Creating a First Nations-led entity would promote greater self-determination, by moving away from government making decisions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Proposal 2
The First Nations independent decision-making entity, in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, explore the most culturally appropriate approaches for recognising historical connection to an area for the purposes of cultural heritage management.
Email: CHA_Review@dsdsatsip.qld.gov.au
Phone number: 1800 469 166
The Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships is managing the review process of Queensland’s Cultural Heritage Acts.
The purpose of the review is to ensure the Cultural Heritage Acts continue to protect and conserve Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage, while enabling business and development activity.
The review began in 2019 and has so far involved:
The original timeline was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Government is now committed to finalising the review. The options paper provides for a 12-week public consultation period that will end on 31 March 2022.
The feedback received through the consultation on the options paper will be used to inform recommended changes to the Cultural Heritage Acts.
The laws protecting cultural heritage in Queensland are the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 and the Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Act 2003.
The main purpose of the Cultural Heritage Acts is to provide effective recognition, protection and conservation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage.
Not necessarily. The proposals are based on key themes from the feedback received in the review so far as well as other national developments. To enable us to finalise the review, we would appreciate your submission to cover the questions included in the options paper.
Alternatively, we would appreciate your feedback by completing the online survey. Providing your feedback is important as it will enable development of cultural heritage reforms that reflect your views.