Vic: Aboriginals take minister to court over disputed artefacts

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2005
Vic: Aboriginals take minister to court over disputed artefacts

A Victorian indigenous organisation has taken the state's Aboriginal Affairs minister
to court over a group of disputed cultural artefacts.

The Dja Dja Wurrung elders claim ownership of the two 1850s bark etchings and a ceremonial
emu figure.

The items belong to two British museums and are on loan to Museum Victoria.

But the elders are seeking a Federal Court order directing Minister GAVIN JENNINGS
to decide whether or not to issue a preservation declaration over the objects.

Such a declaration would keep the artefacts in Victoria.

But it could also mean that the government would have to pay for them.

They were due to be returned to London last year, but this was stopped by a series
of rolling cultural protection orders.

AAP RTV nl/ mp/low/rt

KEYWORD: ETCHINGS (MELBOURNE)

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