The Government must urgently fast-track development of the Australian Heritage Strategy to stop Australia’s heritage languishing without direction, the Australian Greens said today.

 Speaking during Heritage Week, Australian Greens spokesperson for Cultural Heritage, Senator Penny Wright, said the Government had neglected the sector for too long.

 “Funding for the Heritage Department was cut by 30 per cent in the last budget, seriously undermining its ability to carry out its work,” Senator Wright said.

 “The listing of heritage places in Australia is complex, patchy and inconsistent.

 “And many – mostly volunteer – organisations in the community heritage sector are struggling to operate in a meaningful way due to a lack of Government support.

 “This devaluation of our heritage sector by the Federal Government is directly at odds with the community’s support of heritage issues.

 “The Australian Heritage Strategy, which is currently being developed, needs to be fast-tracked so Australians know how the Government plans to manage, conserve and promote our cultural and historical legacy into the future.

 “The Government needs to act quickly, because once gone, our heritage cannot be brought back.”