Full steam ahead: Recent developments concerning Australia's new legal regime for regulating underwater cultural heritage

Abstract

The implementation of Australia's new legal regime for the protection of its underwater cultural heritage has occurred with much pace. On 1 July 2019, the Underwater Cultural Heritage Rules 2018 (Cth) commenced operation. The purpose of this article is to consider those rules. It ultimately concludes that the Australian Parliament is to be commended for devising what are, on the whole, an appropriately drafted set of rules. Notwithstanding this, the article identifies some deficiencies in the new rules and makes suggestions as to how these can be potentially addressed.