Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Laws in the Northern Territory

In the Northern Territory, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage, which includes Aboriginal places and objects, is protected under the Heritage Act 2011 (Heritage Act). Aboriginal Cultural Heritage is also protected under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act 1989 (NT). Please refer to EDO’s factsheet Aboriginal Sacred Sites Laws in the Northern Territory for more information.

It is an offence under the Heritage Act to:

• cause damage to a heritage place or object
• remove part of a heritage place
• remove heritage objects from the NT, or
• fail to report the discovery of Aboriginal places or objects without a reasonable excuse.

There are certain exceptions to these offences.

1. Report discoveries of Aboriginal places or objects to the Heritage Branch of the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment (DLPE)
2. Report any damage to Aboriginal places or objects to the DLPE
3. Apply for works approval from the DLPE
4. Request that a stop work order be issued
5. Apply to the Federal Government for a declaration under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth)