The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has taken federal court action over well known Aboriginal art wholesaler ‘Birubi Art’.

The ACCC has announced today they are taking Aboriginal art wholesaler ‘Birubi Art’ to federal court over allegations the company has been misleading customers into purchasing fake Aboriginal art.

It is alleged that Birubi Art has made misleading claims that some of their products were made in Australia and/or were made or painted by Aboriginal people. The ACCC alleges that many of their products were made in Indonesia. Some of the products include didgeridoos, bullroarers and boomerangs.

There has been a lot of pressure on the fake Aboriginal art trade recently. Right across Australia we have seen grassroots activists standing up and calling out fake Aboriginal art. Activists and the ACCC acknowledge that fake art is damaging and undermines genuine Aboriginal artists.

We have already heard reports that Birubi products have already been stripped from Australian airports and Voyages retail outlets. If you see Birubi products being sold in a store near you, be sure to let us know.

Birubi Art also holds a lucrative agreement with the designer of the Aboriginal flag, Harold Thomas, who gave Birubi Art exclusive rights to use the Aboriginal flag on their products. It is not yet known how this news will affect the arrangement with Mr Thomas.