Criminal offences for damaging heritage sites and shipwrecks and new permit powers for the Heritage Council
Heritage Amendment Bill 2023
1st House
2nd House
Law
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
Criminal offences apply to people who knowingly or negligently damage registered heritage places and objects.
People cannot remove registered shipwrecks or shipwreck artefacts from Victoria.
Owners of land with integral heritage objects must notify the Executive Director.
The Heritage Council can keep parts of hearings private if a submission is confidential.
The Heritage Council can make a decision without a hearing if a person fails to attend via audio or video link.
People with a substantial interest can request a review of an exclusion determination within 28 days.
The Executive Director can require a security deposit to ensure permit works are completed.
The Executive Director can revoke a decision that a permit is not required if works might harm cultural heritage.