Page 3518 - Week 12 - Thursday, 19 September 1991
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HERITAGE OBJECTS BILL 1991
MR WOOD (Minister for Education and the Arts and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (11.57): Mr Acting Speaker, I present the Heritage Objects Bill 1991. I move:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
This will not take quite so long, members. I am pleased to be able to present another important piece of legislation for our community. Together with the heritage provisions of the Land (Planning and Environment) Bill, the Heritage Objects Bill affords a level of protection to the ACT's heritage not found in any other State or Territory.
I would remind members that the provisions of this Bill were originally a component of the heritage part of the Land (Planning and Environment) Bill. The decision to constitute the provisions relating to objects in a separate Bill reflects considerable comment received during the public consultation process that "objects" do not sit comfortably in a Bill which, in every other respect, relates to the planning and management of the Territory's land.
The primary aim of the Heritage Objects Bill is to identify and conserve objects of heritage significance that are in the public domain. The Bill provides for the establishment of a register of heritage objects which can include manufactured and natural objects which have heritage significance to the ACT.
The heritage places register proposed under the Land (Planning and Environment) Bill will include objects which are intrinsic to a place. Examples are in situ Aboriginal rock art and also heritage objects associated with and located at a heritage place, for example, Calthorpes' House. All other objects of heritage significance can be nominated for inclusion in the heritage objects register. The legislation will ensure ongoing responsibility and care for objects as varied as the merry-go-round in Civic, early maps, photographs, furniture, artworks, tools, equipment, vehicles, and the like, which are Territory property.
There will be a publicly accessible register which identifies these objects and a process which ensures that decision making on the future of heritage objects in the public domain is also subject to public comment. The register will identify specific requirements for the conservation of the heritage significance of the objects recorded.
There is also provision in the Bill to withhold from public access information which might threaten the security of particularly sensitive or valuable items. In this regard there are special arrangements for objects of Aboriginal heritage significance which require consultation with relevant Aboriginal organisations prior to listing. It is
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