1Purposes

1 Purposes

The main purposes of this Act are—

(a) to provide for the protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage and Aboriginal intangible heritage in Victoria; and

(b) to empower traditional owners as protectors of their cultural heritage on behalf of Aboriginal people and all other peoples; and

(c) to strengthen the ongoing right to maintain the distinctive spiritual, cultural, material and economic relationship of traditional owners with the land and waters and other resources with which they have a connection under traditional laws and customs; and

(d) to promote respect for Aboriginal cultural heritage, contributing to its protection as part of the common heritage of all peoples and to the sustainable development and management of land and of the environment.