Elizabeth Evatt AC carried out a comprehensive review of the Australian Government's then Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cwlth), and, in the process, reviewed the Aboriginal heritage protection arrangements of each state.
[8] The Act vests the powers to protect and preserve Aboriginal heritage in the Minister responsible for the Act, who is required to take such measures as are practicable for protecting a preserving Aboriginal sites, objects and remains.
[8] The Act had was judged to be "..one of the broadest definitions of Aboriginal cultural heritage in any of the Australian State and Territory laws..".
It was also acknowledged as being the only legislation outside the Australian Capital Territory to expressly recognise that Aboriginal traditions may change over time.
[9][10] Within South Australia it is a criminal offence to:[8] The Act applies to all individuals and corporate entities in the state, including the state itself, at risk of individual fines greater than A$10,000, and corporate fines greater than A$50,000.