Fine and decorative art - factsheet

The Australian Government legislates to protect Australia's unique cultural heritage objects from leaving the country and being lost to future generations of Australians.

The Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 administered by the Department of the Environment and Heritage incorporates the National Cultural Heritage Control List which sets out the criteria identifying Australian protected objects.

An application for a permit to export an object of fine or decorative art should be lodged where a painting or decorative object meets all of the following criteria. Where:

  1. it is at least as old as the age threshold stipulated against the type of object in the following table; and
  2. the current Australian market value exceeds the sum stipulated against the type of object in the following table; and
  3. it is an Australia related* object.
value and age thresholds
Item Objects of fine or decorative art Amount A$ Age (years)
1 paintings by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples created in the Indigenous tradition 10 000 20
2 objects that are not otherwise mentioned in this table and that are made from glass, wood, paper, plastic, ceramic, leather, ivory, natural or man made fibre, or a base metal 5000 30
3 objects made from precious metals 25 000 30
4 musical instruments 10 000 30
5 arms and armour 5000 30
6 architectural fittings and decoration, and interior decoration 15 000 30
7 tapestries and carpets 10 000 30
8 sculptures 30 000 30
9 furniture 30 000 30
10 jewellery 40 000 30
11 clocks and watches 40 000 30
12 watercolours, pastels, drawings, sketches and other similar works 40 000 30
13 paintings 250 000 30
14 prints, posters, photographs or similar works of art with potential for multiple production 10 000 30
15 any object not mentioned above if the object provides documentation of any notable person or event in Australian science, technology, arts or history no value threshold no age threshold

*An Australia related object means an object designed or made:

  1. in or outside Australia by an Australian; or
  2. in Australia by a foreign person who, at some time, worked or resided in Australia; or
  3. outside Australia by a foreign person, if the object incorporates Australian motifs or subject-matter, or is otherwise relevant to Australia.

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