At their meeting next Thursday the council will discuss whether Preminghana petroglyphs, ancient Indigenous rock carvings, will be removed from the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Galley and returned to the Aboriginal community.

IN OTHER NEWS:

QVMAG received an official request for the return of the carvings, which have been in its possession for about 60 years, in December last year.

The Tasmanian Museum and Art Galley also have Preminghana petroglyphs in its collection.

In December last year they agreed to return them to the Indigenous community.

ALCT chairman Michael Mansell is urging both museums to return the petroglyphs by September.

He said he has written to the council urging them to hand the items in the QVMAG collection directly to elders.

"We encourage them to make a decision quickly ... we have asked them to without delay hand the fragments of the petroglyphs that they have over to the Aboriginal community in a ceremony where the elders would take possession," Mr Mansell said

Mr Mansell said such a ceremony would remove the need for a permit from Aboriginal Affairs Minister Elise Archer.

If the council approves the return of the rock carvings at QVMAG, they will be required to undertake a community consultation process.

Under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1975 they will also have to apply to the Aboriginal Affairs Minister for a permit to release the petroglyphs.

City of Launceston mayor Albert Van Zetten said he expected the council would vote to return the petroglyphs.

A government spokesperson said they would like to see the petroglyphs returned to the Indigenous community as quickly as possible.

Sign up to one of our many newsletters: