Movable cultural heritage – the role of Expert Examiners
When the National Cultural Heritage Committee receives an application for an export permit under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986, the Committee provides details of the object to one or more Expert Examiners for assessment.
The Committee maintains a register of Expert Examiners, who are drawn from a range of institutions and backgrounds, and provide their expertise on a voluntary basis.
Assessing cultural objects
Expert Examiners:
- Establish if the object is an 'Australian protected object' by assessing whether it meets the criteria contained within the relevant part(s) of the National Cultural Heritage Control List.
- Advise whether the object is of such importance to Australia that its loss through export would constitute a significant diminution of Australia's cultural heritage.
There are three possible outcomes from an assessment:
- The Expert Examiner decides the object is not an Australian protected object, therefore the Act does not apply to the object and there is no restriction on its export.
- The Expert Examiner decides that the object meets the criteria to be an Australian protected object, but its level of significance to Australia is such that its loss by export would not be a serious diminution of Australia's cultural heritage, and recommends that a permit may be granted.
- The Expert Examiner assesses that the level of significance to Australia is very high, and recommends against the issue of a permit.
The National Cultural Heritage Committee reviews the Expert Examiner assessment and then makes a recommendation to the Minister on the granting of a permit.
Expert Examiner's Guidelines
Download the Expert Examiners' Guidelines:
Expert Examiner's Assessment form (for technical use)
Download the Expert Examiners' assessment form:
- Permanent export permits applications (PDF - 104 KB) or
(Word - 132 KB) - Temporary export permit applications (PDF - 45 KB)
Becoming an Expert Examiner
If you have expertise relevant to the National Cultural Heritage Control List's nine categories and would like to assist in the protection of Australia's movable cultural heritage, please contact the Cultural Property Section.
