Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act education session presentation slides

Find out the objects and principles of the Aboriginal Culture Heritage (ACH) Act 2021

The ACH Act will replace the outdated Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 concluding more than three years of consultation with Aboriginal people, industry representatives, heritage professionals, and the Western Australian community. 

Before the ACH Act comes into operation there will be a transitional period of at least 12 months during which the regulations, statutory guidelines and operational policies will be developed to ensure the ACH Act will have its intended effects. The Objects of the act are to recognise, protect, conserve, and preserve the Aboriginal cultural heritage and to manage activities that may harm cultural heritage in a manner that provides clarity, confidence and certainty and for a balanced and beneficial outcome for Aboriginal people and the wider Western Australian Community.

Key components of the ACH Act

Aboriginal people empowered to determine what ACH is protected - existing registered sites and lodged places transition to new Directory.

ACH Council has been determined to designate Local Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Services (LACHS) which provides an active role for Aboriginal people in heritage management to provide a one-stop shop for proponents to determine what is involved in future registrations.