Australian Heritage Strategy
About the Strategy
In 2011 the Australian Government began the process of developing an Australian heritage strategy. The strategy will provide a common framework and priorities within which all heritage organisations will be invited to participate over the next decade - to make the most of limited resources and to build upon success.
A public discussion paper and ten commissioned essays were released in April 2012 to outline some of the current challenges and opportunities. Ninety-seven submissions were received in response and they provide a strong basis for the development of the strategy.
Overall:
- most submissions were received from individuals and groups involved in historic heritage, with some from individuals and groups involved in indigenous or natural heritage
- the submissions conveyed a depth of community commitment to heritage, with diverse views about what 'heritage' is, and
- there was little discussion about how heritage activities might be affected by the current financial constraints facing all governments.
There is considerable continuity between these submission and other considerations of heritage that have taken place in recent years (see below), though there were also differences.
- See the public submissions
The way forward
Based upon the submissions received, the department has been developing the strategy and consultations are still ongoing with stakeholders. Issues that are being considered in these consultations include:
- achieving clarity about core issues, including what heritage is and who is involved in heritage
- the challenges facing Indigenous heritage particularly, as well as natural and historic heritage
- identifying priorities for the identification, protection, management, communication and leadership of heritage across Australia, and
- responding to the financial constraints facing governments.
Further consultation
Consultations on the strategy will continue over coming months. It is anticipated that the strategy will be discussed between the Australian Government and the states and territories in early 2013. It is likely that the strategy will be made public following this discussion.
Other relevant documents
Documents that provide background relevant to the development of the strategy include:
- Australian heritage strategy discussion paper, submissions and commissioned essays
- the heritage chapter of the 2011 State of the Environment report
- submissions and discussion paper on a 2009 review of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act
- submissions and inquiry undertaken by the Productivity Commission in 2005-6
Search for heritage places
Quick Links
- Australian Heritage Week
- Public notices
- Asia-Pacific Focal Point
- Australia's dinosaurs
- Managing Commonwealth heritage places
- Australian Heritage Council
- Australian Heritage Places Inventory (AHPI)
- Australian Heritage Database
- Australian Heritage Information
- Export permits
- Indigenous heritage
- Place managers network
- Historic Shipwrecks Program factsheet
- Patrimonito Storyboard competition
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window