Minister says unlawfully held cultural objects belong in their country of origin
Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to returning stolen Indian cultural artefacts, with Home Affairs and Arts Minister Tony Burke declaring that retaining objects acquired unlawfully amounts to “theft” and should not be tolerated.
Speaking days after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the return of several significant Indian artefacts during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia, Burke said Canberra would actively identify and repatriate stolen cultural objects instead of waiting for formal requests from New Delhi.
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Burke said there were two pathways for the return of artefacts: items identified by Australian authorities as being held unlawfully, and those returned following official requests from countries of origin
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He stressed that Australia should take the initiative wherever evidence showed that an artefact had been acquired illegally
“There should be no country in the world that views theft as acceptable,” Burke said, adding that keeping an object that was not lawfully obtained was itself an act of theft. He pointed to the earlier return of a Shiva idol by the National Gallery of Australia after authorities concluded it had no legitimate claim to the sculpture, describing the latest repatriation efforts as an extension of the same principle.
The minister said returning cultural heritage reflected the trust and friendship underpinning the India-Australia relationship and should be viewed as part of broader cooperation between the two countries rather than as a one-off diplomatic gesture. The two nations have expanded collaboration in recent years across trade, education, security and the Indo-Pacific, with cultural cooperation emerging as another important area of engagement.
India has long sought the return of antiquities and religious artefacts removed illegally from the country over several decades. Australia’s latest commitment is expected to strengthen bilateral cultural ties while supporting global efforts to combat the illicit trade in cultural property and ensure historically significant artefacts are returned to their rightful homes.
