Aboriginal art sold in Australia generates tens of millions of dollars each year. But it's estimated that about 75% of what's sold in souvenir shops is actually fake Aboriginal art. And Indigenous leaders say the harm it causes goes way beyond the money lost. Greg Navarro explains. 

Inside the Kgari 3 Sisters art gallery. Every piece Susan Reys produces tells a story. Stories from the world's oldest continuous living culture that span generations.

SUSAN REYS, Aboriginal Artist "Growing up in a family of storytellers – it's a part of our culture, you know we are drawing as kids, mum is growing stories in the sand and we are copying her."

For Reys, art is a way to keep those stories alive, which is why knowing that the majority of what's sold as Aboriginal art is fake.

"It really hurts."

It is so tough to live with.

SUSAN REYS, Aboriginal Artist "I get emotional because Aboriginal people here in Australia are the most socially disadvantaged population in Australia. I see my people suffering still today from intergenerational trauma. I can see them try to make their lives better but there are only so many times that you can get up and say, ok it is a brand new day I'm going to start again."

Australia's government estimates that as much as 75% of the Aboriginal art sold in this country is fake. Much of that fake art can be found in souvenir shops, featuring uniquely Aboriginal designs that are copied without the artists' permission, and usually made overseas.

LYDIA MILLER, Kukuyalamji Woman "It is a bastardisation of our culture and its primary motive is to profit."

Most Aboriginal artists struggle to make a living. Susan Reys and her husband can't afford to pay staff to help run the gallery.

PROFESSOR HENRIETTA MARRIE, University of Queensland "It's a rip off, a total rip off and it is insulting to our people to do that when the work is just a lot more than a few of these lines and dots on a painting, it is more than that - it tells you who you really are from in here."

Despite of identifying the problem, Australia's government has yet to pass any legislation protecting the rights of Aboriginal artists or copyright laws safeguarding their culture. Here in Cairns, which is a popular tourist destination, fake Aboriginal art is plentiful.

GREG NAVARRO, Cairns, Australia "Out of the estimated $88 million dollars tourists spend all across the region here, it's believed at least 60% of that money is spent buying fake Indigenous art which means if you leave here with a souvenir chances are it's not what it claims to be."

That's why Indigenous leaders say educating consumers is crucial.

LYDIA MILLER, Kukuyalamji Woman "When you are talking about legislative mechanisms they are slow, legislation takes time but we do know that consumers in nanoseconds can make a purchasing decision which is right, or wrong and that's the power of the consumer."

SUSAN REYS, Aboriginal Artist "We are trying to get by but we need your help. Don't buy fake art."

Instead Reys says, buy authentic Aboriginal art that tells a story. Greg Navarro, CGTN, Cairns.