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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 3 Hansard (28 March) . . Page.. 838 ..

MS HORODNY (continuing):

At the local level, the development of the National Museum will be a significant boost to the ACT economy, not only in jobs created but also in extra tourist activity that it will generate. I had hoped that Mr De Domenico would be here to listen to this; he loves the idea of many more jobs.

The National Museum concept has developed around three themes of Australian history. Firstly, it is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture; secondly, it is the Australian society and history since 1788; and, thirdly, it is the people's interaction with the Australian environment. These themes all interrelate. The museum was intended to be built large enough to enable exhibitions on these themes to be presented together so that visitors to the museum would get a comprehensive picture of Australian life.

The design of the museum buildings was also originally intended to reflect the Australian landscape and its indigenous architecture. The original plans for the buildings showed a sprawling complex of low buildings interspersed with outdoor displays and activities, reflecting the style of Australian homesteads. The Yarramundi site is very suitable for these concepts of the National Museum. It is a big site - 88 hectares - and it is unencumbered with existing structures, unlike the Acton Peninsula. Its location includes a wonderful backdrop of the lake and the Brindabella ranges, and this reflects the great Australian landscape that we should, and do, all treasure.

The previous Federal Labor Government modified the original museum concept by promoting the idea of a distributed national collection rather than having a single museum site at Yarramundi, and I recall Paul Keating saying words to the effect that Australia does not need another museum building in Canberra. A part of the National Museum dealing with political history was thus established in Old Parliament House. The Aboriginal part of the museum was to be built on Acton Peninsula, and there have been travelling exhibitions of National Museum objects to other parts of Australia. The problem with this whole approach is that it separates different aspects of the museum and destroys the idea of presenting to Australian people and to overseas visitors a holistic view of Australian society and the interactions within it. Building a National Museum in Canberra, the national capital, provides Australians with a central physical focus within which to consider their sense of national identity.

To emphasise this point, just consider what impact the presence of the War Memorial in Canberra has had in reinforcing awareness of Australia's military history. The National Gallery and the National Library have also had a significant impact through recording and expressing Australia's cultural life. The same must be allowed to occur with the National Museum. It is critical that Australian residents and visitors have the opportunity to see in one place, in one very suitable location at Yarramundi, detailed, comprehensive and integrated displays of all aspects of Australian life. I therefore commend this motion to the Assembly.

MR MOORE (4.52): Mr Speaker, I rise to speak feeling that I may have indicated incorrectly to Ms Horodny that I would support this motion. Certainly, I have no problem with supporting the tenor of the motion. I have just had a discussion with the Labor Party and, because there is some confusion for us - and I will explain that in a minute - I think it may be best that we adjourn the debate so that we can sort out this particular aspect of it and perhaps reword the motion a little.

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