Julie Owens (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak again about the importance of the Parramatta Female Convict Factory, a building commissioned by Governor Macquarie, designed by Greenway and built by Watkins and Payten with convict labour and completed in 1821. It is not the first time I have spoken about the convict factory in this place and I do so again today because its value to our nation cannot be overstated, and it has not as yet received the recognition and protection that national heritage listing would provide. I hope that this will soon change, that this iconic building, nestled in the cradle of modern Australia on the banks of the Parramatta River will be listed for national heritage assessment.

In saying this, I am echoing the concerns of my local community in Parramatta, from Western Sydney and across Australia, the thousands of people who have signed petitions over the years calling for this site to be recognised and protected. And I echo the concerns of the tireless and passionate advocates of the factory, people like Gay Hendriksen of the Female Factory Friends, Bonnie Djuric of Parragirls, local historian June Bullivant, Phil Bradley of the Parramatta Greens, Jack Mundy the former New South Wales member for Parramatta, Tanya Gadiel and countless others who have poured so much effort and so many hours into advocating for this magnificent place over the months and years in the past.

The Parramatta Female Factory's nomination to be among the next places assessed for national heritage is currently being considered by the Australian Heritage Council. I have asked the minister, and I have asked him strongly, to recommend that the factory be added to the places for national heritage assessment. I believe its time has come. (Time expired)