The Minister may only include a place in the Commonwealth Heritage List if the place is in a Commonwealth area, or is owned or leased by the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth agency outside the Australian jurisdiction, and the Minister is satisfied that the place has one or more Commonwealth Heritage values.

The Minister must ask the Australian Heritage Council for an assessment of the place's Commonwealth Heritage values and may invite public comments on the proposed inclusion of the place in the Commonwealth Heritage List.

Commonwealth agencies must make plans to protect and manage the Commonwealth Heritage values of Commonwealth Heritage places. The Commonwealth and Commonwealth agencies must not contravene those plans.

Commonwealth agencies also have other obligations.

The Commonwealth can provide assistance for the identification, promotion, protection or conservation of Commonwealth Heritage places.