Underwater Cultural Heritage Delegates

The Underwater Cultural Heritage Delegates evolved from annual meetings commencing in 1985 of Commonwealth and state officials to discuss the administration of the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976. State officials became delegates under the Historic Shipwreck Act circa 1989 and have met annually since. The Shipwrecks Act was repealed in 2019 and replaced by the Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018. The Delegates continue to meet in order to provide strategic policy input on the protection of Australia's underwater cultural heritage, uniform national administration and delivery of the objectives of the Australian Underwater Cultural Heritage Program (AUCHP).