Senator LUDLAM asked:

1. Has there been any headway made on a national heritage strategy?

2. Will the national cultural policy say anything meaningful about heritage?

3. Did the Australian Heritage Council or Heritage Working Group make a formal submission about the national cultural policy?

Answer:

1. The Minister is currently considering the potential merits of developing an Australian Heritage Strategy.

2. The national cultural policy is still being developed.

3. No.

Senator LUDLAM asked:

What expert heritage advice was provided to the Minister on the decision taken under the EPBC Act not to make the Nishi Building development a controlled action? Who provided the Minister with expert heritage advice and whether that advice supported or opposed the development?

Answers:

CHAIR-Senator Ludlam, it is now time to adjourn.

Senator LUDLAM-I have another 11 seconds. What is happening with the Ningaloo Reef World Heritage Area?

Mr Shevlin-The IUCN assessors visited in the last couple of weeks. They are now going back to prepare their report for the World Heritage Centre so we are expecting that that will be considered at the World Heritage Committee meeting in June next year.

Senator LUDLAM-There is a national heritage application in play at the moment for the Kimberley which was reduced to cover a large fraction of the West Kimberley. Can you provide us with an update of where that is up to?

Mr Shevlin-The Heritage Council was required to provide its advice to the minister on the West Kimberley by 30 June which it did. The minister, under the EPBC Act, has 90 business days-which is until 5 November-to make a decision or to extend the period for making his decision, which could be, for example, if he decides that further consultation is required.

Senator LUDLAM-I have some questions about the so-called Burrup and so-called Kimberley national heritage listings as well, so if we could go to those and maybe we will take them in that order. For the national heritage listing of the Burrup Peninsula, which I think was concluded in 2007, can you tell us what are the current management arrangements in place for that area, I guess with a view towards Commonwealth arrangements in particular?

The Australian Greens are calling for a major investment to safeguard natural and cultural heritage while creating jobs in a sustainable industry.

Against the stunning backdrop of Kalgoorlie-Boulder at Mt Charlotte today (Thursday 19 August 2010), standing on the site where C Y O'Connor's water pipeline ends its 650km journey from Mundaring Weir, Greens Senator for WA Scott Ludlam called for $25 million annually in grants to be made available from the Federal Government for heritage work across the nation.

Senator LUDLAM-Some of these questions will seem familiar, having been through this a couple of times with you. Can you just give us the staffing number for the division at the start of the 2009-10 financial year in full-time equivalents, please?

Mr Shevlin-Yes. In fact, I think you have asked for the comparison in the past between the last couple of years, so if I can just give you that.

Senator LUDLAM-That is exactly what I am about to do.

Division/Agency: Heritage Division
Topic: Heritage funding
Hansard Page ECA: 5 (20/10/09)

Senator LUDLAM asked:

Senator LUDLAM-At the last hearings we asked a couple of questions about core departmental funding for Heritage. Some information was provided. It looked as though there was a big apparent difference in the funding between the last financial year and the current financial year. I think I put these questions to you.

Ms Kruk-I think there was a question on notice on that, was there not?

Division/Agency: Heritage Division
Topic: Commonwealth Heritage List - nominations
Hansard Page ECA: 7 (20/10)

Senator LUDLAM asked:

Senator LUDLAM-I have one or two more questions, which are about the Commonwealth Heritage List.
Can you tell us how many nominations are scheduled for assessment for the current financial year on that list?

Mr Hooy-I will have to take that on notice.

Senator LUDLAM-Can you give a rough idea? More than 10? More than 20?

Mr Hooy-Only a relatively small number.

Answers:

Division/Agency: Heritage Division
Topic: Heritage Strategies
Hansard Page ECA: 7 (20/10)

Senator LUDLAM asked:

Mr Hooy-Yes, Senator. This is with regard to the heritage strategies?

Senator LUDLAM-Yes. That is correct.

Mr Hooy-At the moment, 15 agencies have completed heritage strategies. A further 16 are almost completed. Either they have been considered by council or the department has reviewed a draft strategy. Ten departments have yet to indicate whether or not they propose to undertake heritage strategies.