Stolen Shiva triggers off debate on import and export laws

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In early 2014 the National Gallery Australia returned to India a 900-year-old Shiva that had been found to be stolen.

The event has since prompted Attorney general George Brandis to review national import and export laws just weeks after NGAlaunched an independant review of provenance issues in its Asian art collection. According to The Guardian “Brandis said the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act had not been substantially amended since 1986”.

Elsewhere in Australia, The Art Gallery of New South Wales returned a 1,000-year-old Ardhanariswara idol.