Invitation for Public Comment on the Old Parliament House and Curtilage Draft Replacement Management Plan

Overview

The Commonwealth of Australia has released a draft replacement management plan for the Old Parliament House and Curtilage, aiming to replace the existing Heritage Management Plan 2015-2020. This draft management plan, prepared by the Minister for the Environment and the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, is designed to protect and manage the site's Commonwealth Heritage and National Heritage values for the period of 2021-2026. This initiative was introduced to ensure the preservation and conservation of a site of significant historical and democratic importance to Australia, having served as the home of the Federal Parliament from 1927 until 1988. The plan invites public comment to incorporate feedback from Indigenous peoples with rights and interests in the place, as well as the ACT Government, to ensure the plan is comprehensive and inclusive. The draft management plan is open for public comment until 5.00pm AEST on Wednesday 7 October 2020. Members of the public, including Indigenous peoples with rights and interests in the place, and the ACT Government, are invited to provide feedback on the draft plan to ensure that the final plan is well-rounded and inclusive. The Minister for the Environment and the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet have prepared this draft management plan under paragraphs 324S(6)(a) and 341S(6)(b) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Comments can be submitted electronically via the Museum of Australian Democracy website or by requesting a hard copy of the documentation. Feedback should be directed to the Heritage and Collections Coordinator at the Museum of Australian Democracy or the Director of the Historic Heritage Section, Heritage, Reef and Wildlife Trade Division.

Scope and Application

The Old Parliament House and Curtilage Draft Replacement Management Plan 2021-2026, prepared by the Minister for the Environment and the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, applies to the preservation and management of the heritage values of Old Parliament House and its curtilage, which served as the home of Australia’s Federal Parliament until 1988. This draft plan is intended to replace the existing Heritage Management Plan 2015-2020. It is applicable to all persons and entities with interests in the site, including the general public, Indigenous peoples with rights and interests in the place, and the ACT Government. The plan operates under the auspices of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, which grants the Minister for the Environment authority over the management of Commonwealth and National Heritage places. The scope of the Act extends across the Commonwealth of Australia, with a particular focus on the site in question, Old Parliament House, located in Canberra, ACT. The draft management plan is open to public comment until 5:00 pm AEST on Wednesday 7 October 2020, and submissions can be made electronically or in hard copy. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions or thresholds, but the public comment period ensures that all stakeholders have an opportunity to provide input into the plan's development.

Key Provisions

The main sections of the Gazette notice concern the publication of the draft replacement management plan for Old Parliament House and its curtilage, which is proposed to protect and manage the site's Commonwealth Heritage and National Heritage values for the period 2021-2026 (sections 324S(6)(a) and 341S(6)(b) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999). This draft management plan seeks to replace the previous Heritage Management Plan for the period 2015-2020. The notice invites public comment on the draft plan from members of the public, including Indigenous peoples with rights and interests in the place, and the ACT Government. The obligations imposed by this notice on the relevant parties include the requirement for public comment on the draft replacement management plan. The public, including Indigenous peoples and the ACT Government, are invited to review the draft plan and provide feedback. This is to ensure the management plan reflects a broad range of interests and concerns, particularly those of stakeholders with direct rights or interests in the heritage site. The notice provides clear instructions on how to access the draft plan electronically via the Museum of Australian Democracy website or by requesting a hard copy. Feedback should be submitted by the specified deadline, which is 5.00pm AEST on Wednesday, 7 October 2020, to the contact officer listed in the notice. There are no direct offences, penalties, or consequences specified in the notice for failing to comply with the public comment requirement. However, the process of soliciting public input is a crucial part of the legislative framework under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The effectiveness of the management plan in preserving and managing the heritage values of Old Parliament House may be influenced by the quality and scope of the feedback received during this public consultation period. While the notice does not specify penalties for non-compliance, it underscores the importance of public participation in the management and conservation of national and commonwealth heritage sites.