[Greens-Media] Greens ensure Aboriginal expert place on Heritage Council

[David Shoebridge]

Greens ensure Aboriginal expert place on Heritage Council
MEDIA RELEASE - 20 October 2011
 
The Greens last night secured amendments to the Heritage Act, including legislating that the Heritage Council must contain a member who has expertise in Aboriginal heritage.   
 
Greens NSW MP and Heritage spokesperson David Shoebridge said:
 
"In the past having an Aboriginal heritage expert on the Heritage Council was merely an option.
 
"Aboriginal heritage is of central importance to NSW and in the past it hasn't been given the prominence that it demands.
 
"The Heritage Council makes recommendations to the Minister about putting items of natural or cultural heritage on the State Heritage Register. 
 
"NSW has a rich Aboriginal history and the Heritage Council has a key role to play in ensuring that Aboriginal cultural items and places are given the protection they deserve.
 
"The government's Heritage Act Amendment Bill is a small but real step forward. The Greens have improved it by legislating that an Aboriginal heritage expert must be on the Heritage Council.
 
"Another successful Greens amendment will ensure that the Planning Assessment Commission will not have an open-ended amount of time in which to review heritage issues.
 
"Aboriginal heritage issues have taken a back seat in NSW for too many years. The Greens are committed to achieving real reform in this area," Mr Shoebridge said.
 
The Greens were able to secure the amendments with the support of the Opposition and the Shooters & Fishers Party.
 
Media contact: 9230 3030 | 0433 753 376
 
 

David Shoebridge
Greens MP in the NSW Legislative Council
P: (02) 9230 3030|Media: 0433 753 376|T: @ShoebridgeMLC ( http://twitter.com/#!/shoebridgemlc )
SIGN UP TO STAY IN TOUCH at davidshoebridge.org.au/sign-up ( http://davidshoebridge.org.au/take-action/sign-up/ )