Page 1198 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 24 April 1990
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interests. If we are not, I do not know who is better placed.
As well as the legislative framework, the Alliance Government supports the provision of grants for heritage purposes. These grants provide assistance for the operation of key heritage community organisations, including the National Trust, the ACT Historical Society and the Conservation Council, for projects and the purchase of equipment for community groups. Whilst the level of funding under this program has been modest, I believe that it has been very effective in achieving the involvement of the ACT community in the conservation and presentation of its heritage.
Additionally, we have received Commonwealth funding under the National Estate grants program for support for both government and community groups in work associated with areas on the register of the National Estate. The ACT Government and the Federal Government agree on the allocation of these moneys. Major projects include the preparation of a conservation plan for the Reid urban conservation area, which is being undertaken at present, and in the recent past a cultural resource study of the Kowen Forest, and continuing support for the ACT National Trust.
For both grants categories the range of activities funded is very broad. Funds have been allocated to activities such as the conservation of the graveyard at Cuppacumbalong; the recording of heritage buildings in the Marion Mahony Griffin measured drawing competition; the conservation and interpretation of rock art sites; the restoration work at St John's Church of England in Reid; and the rehabilitation of forest areas in the Namadgi National Park.
In conclusion, the Alliance Government is going to provide a high level of heritage protection. I believe that we have heeded and are providing for - and I refer to the subject of Mr Wood's matter of public importance - the need to take all measures necessary to secure Canberra's heritage for this generation and future generations.
MS FOLLETT (Leader of the Opposition) (3.55): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise to add to the comments that Mr Wood has made in relation to this matter of public importance. I think it is worth noting that the timing of this matter of public importance in ACT Heritage Week is obviously the reason it has been raised today, but I also think that it is time that very close scrutiny was given to the Alliance Government's written policy on the protection of ACT heritage. It is a disgraceful document. It is a scant one page in length. It, like all of their documents, is full of pious intentions but contains no evidence of intended action whatsoever. Most notably, the document contains no mention whatsoever of any of the ACT's Aboriginal heritage or of any of the ACT's multicultural heritage. In fact,
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