State Aboriginal Heritage Committee (SA)
Information Sheet
What is the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee (SA)?
The State Aboriginal Heritage Committee (SA) advises the Minister for
Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation on issues relating to the protection and
preservation of Aboriginal heritage. Committee members do not represent
particular heritage groups, although every effort is made to have broad
coverage and knowledge of Aboriginal Heritage throughout the State.
Members are appointed by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and
Reconciliation, the Hon. Ian Hunter MLC, considering the skills, experience
and knowledge of all Aboriginal nominees.
The Aboriginal Heritage Committee is created under Section 7 of the SA
Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988. The Committee is now referred to as the State
Aboriginal Heritage Committee (SA) to indicate its formal status as the
principal body distinct from local Aboriginal heritage committees.
Section 7 of the Act states:
“ (1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
The Aboriginal Heritage Committee is established.
The Committee consists of Aboriginal persons appointed, as far as is
practicable, from all parts of the State by the Minister to represent the
interests of Aboriginal people throughout the State in the protection and
preservation of the Aboriginal heritage.
The Minister must, as far as is practicable, appoint equal numbers of
men and women to the Committee.
The members of the Committee will be appointed on such conditions
and for such terms as the Minister considers appropriate.
The Committee may, with the approval of the Minister, establish subcommittees (which may – but need not – consist of or include members
of the Committee) to investigate and report to the Committee on any
matter.”
What is the function of State Aboriginal Heritage Committee (SA)?
The functions of the Committee are set out in Section 8 of the SA Aboriginal
Heritage Act 1988. These include providing clear advice and guidance to the
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation and the South Australian
Government on all matters related to Aboriginal heritage for the protection and
preservation of Aboriginal sites, objects and remains that are of significance
according to Aboriginal tradition, archaeology, anthropology or history.
Section 8 of the Act states:
”Functions of the Committee
8. The functions of the Committee are –
(a)
to advise the Minister, either on its own initiative or at the request of the
Minister, with respect to –
(i)
the making of entries in the central archives and the removal of
any such entry; and
(ii)
measures that should, in the Committee’s opinion, be taken for
the protection or preservation of Aboriginal sites, objects or
remains; and
(iii)
the appointment of suitable persons as inspectors for the
purpose of this Act; and
(iv)
any other matter related to the administration or operation of this
Act or to the protection or preservation of the Aboriginal heritage;
and
(b)
to carry out any other function assigned to the Committee by this Act or
by the Minister.”
Eligibility for State Aboriginal Heritage Committee (SA)
To be eligible to join the State Aboriginal Heritage Committee (SA), a person
must be:

A South Australian Aboriginal.

Aged over 18 years at the time of appointment.

Active in community on local heritage matter.

Where practicable, a commitment to attend meetings every six weeks.
Selection Criteria
Applications are assessed against the following selection criteria:
 Interest in and commitment to Aboriginal heritage issues.
 Team membership skills.
 Knowledge of the SA Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988.
 Experience and skills in advocating on behalf of Aboriginal people for
the protection and preservation of Aboriginal heritage.
State Aboriginal Heritage Committee (SA)
Financial Information Sheet
The approved level of remuneration to members of Government appointed
part-time Boards and Committees is pursuant to the Department of the
Premier and Cabinet Circular No. 16 and the travel expenses as outlined for
Board and Committees within the Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation
Division. These currently stand as follows:
Sessional Remuneration
A Sessional Fee is paid to Committee members under the following
conditions:

When a Committee member attends a "Board Session”. A Board Session
is considered to include Committee meetings and approved Committee
activities (e.g. community consultation meetings, interview panels, training,
induction)

Travel is not paid at the Sessional Fee rate.

The full Sessional Fee is paid where a Board Session lasts less than four
hours, providing that at least two hours have elapsed.

An hourly rate is paid for each completed or partially completed hour,
where a Board Session exceeds four hours.

Government employees are not paid sitting fees.
Travel Reimbursement

Members are paid in advance of meetings so as not to incur hardship.

The following conditional allowances and / or reimbursements apply:
o Committee members who travel distances in excess of 40km one way
are entitled to costs necessarily incurred for meals and
accommodation.
o Where a private vehicle is used to travel to and from a meeting, the
committee member is entitled to a mileage allowance at a rate that
does not exceed the cheapest available flight to and from the meeting.
Where air flights are not available due to the location or when members
choose to drive their cars, then a mileage allowance will be paid at the
rate prescribed in Determination 3.2 for Public Sector Employment
under Combination of Official and Private Use or;
o Where public transport is used, the committee member will be
reimbursed for actual travel expenses incurred.

Where members attend meetings in the general locality of their place of
residence:
o Committee members will be reimbursed for expenses necessarily
incurred in connection with normal committee business, providing that
expenses are not associated with normal travel to and from meetings
or clearly the liability of the committee member.

Meals cannot be claimed if they have been provided at the meeting.

If a member does not attend a meeting, debt recovery of monies paid will
be actioned.