In Australia, national and foreign cultural heritage is protected by our laws. Australian cultural property objects are significant to the nation’s identity. It is important all cultural heritage items are imported and exported legally.

Cultural heritage objects, also known as cultural property, include: antiquities, art, fossils, historical documents, numismatic (medals) material, specimens of flora and fauna.

The responsibility falls to importers of foreign cultural material to ensure that the object has valid export permission from the country of origin, if required. Objects may be detained at the border pending confirmation of lawful export from the country of origin.