The Australian Greens are deeply concerned about the future protection of thousands of natural, cultural and Indigenous heritage places currently listed on the Register of the National Estate.

Greens spokesperson for Cultural Heritage, Senator Penny Wright, has written a letter to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Tony Burke seeking clarification about what will happen the to more than 13,000 places listed on the Register when it ceases to operate as a statutory register on February 19.

 “Our enquiries indicate that only about 400 places from the Register have been transferred to either the National Heritage List or Commonwealth Heritage List and that was back in 2006.  The Australian Government has had five years to oversee the transfer of the remaining places to relevant State, Territory and Local Government heritage registers and I am concerned to know what has happened since then,” Senator Wright said.

 “I am apprehensive that those heritage places, which are so vital to our national identity, may not have any legislative protection after February 19. 

 “If legislative protection is lost, a significant part of the nation’s cultural heritage will be left vulnerable to degradation when future development decisions impacting these places are made.

 “The Federal Government must show strong leadership on this issue to ensure that thousands of heritage places don’t lose their protected status from February 19 because of a poorly handled transition process.”

 Media contact – Jennifer Maisel   0417 173 508