Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question

(1) National leadership initiatives in development include major National Heritage assessments, the inaugural Australian Heritage Week in April 2011 and an Australian Heritage Strategy.

(2) On 10 February 2011 the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities wrote to Premiers and Chief Ministers inviting them to select a Minister who is responsible for heritage and can speak for natural, historic and Indigenous heritage to attend a special purpose meeting of Heritage Ministers. This meeting will help provide a common direction for all jurisdictions in the development of an Australian Heritage Strategy.

(3) Stakeholder consultation is an important consideration in the development of an Australian Heritage Strategy. The process for consultations will be developed in the near future.

(4) An Australian Heritage Strategy will help guide a common direction for the Commonwealth, states and territories, generating a clear vision, shared objectives and priorities for heritage.

(5) The mechanisms for consultation have not yet been finalised.

(6) The Department is in discussion with Dr Carmen Lawrence, chair of the Australian Heritage Council, about the Council's role in the development of an Australian Heritage Strategy.