An owner or occupier of land who discovers an Aboriginal site, object or remains must report it to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs as soon as practicable or may be fined up to $50 000 if body corporate or $10 000 or imprisonment for six months for a person [see Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (SA) s 20].

An inspector may give directions prohibiting or restricting access or activities affecting a site, object or remains, if satisfied that urgent action is necessary for protection or preservation purposes. A person who fails to comply with directions given by an inspector may be fined up to $10 000 and jailed for up to six months and a body corporate may be fined up to $50 000 [see Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (SA) ss 25 and 26].

It is an offence to damage, disturb or interfere with any Aboriginal site, damage any Aboriginal object or damage or interfere with or remove any Aboriginal object or remains. The maximum penalty is $50 000 in the case of a body corporate and $10 000 or imprisonment for six months in any other case[see Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (SA) s 23].