Mr TUCKEY (Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government) (1:34 PM) —I move:

Section 5(1) of the Parliament Act 1974 provides that no building or other work is to be erected on land within the Parliamentary Zone unless the minister has caused a proposal for the erection of the building or work to be laid before each house of the parliament and the proposal has been approved by resolution of each house.

Reconciliation Place has been constructed in the Parliamentary Zone at the junction of the land axis and creates and incorporates the pedestrian cross-axis between the National Library of Australia to the west and the High Court of Australia to the east—section 56, Parkes. On 27 September 2001, approval was granted under section 5 of the Parliament Act 1974 in the Senate and the House of Representatives for the general siting of six slivers and the design and content of five slivers. At the time of tabling the proposal, the former Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government, Senator the Hon. Ian Macdonald, advised that further approvals would be sought for the text and images to be incorporated in the sixth sliver.

The Reconciliation Place Steering Committee met on 21 July 2002 and considered the sixth sliver, which is proposed to recognise Indigenous leaders, including Neville Bonner and Vincent Lingiari. The committee was satisfied with the design concept and, in particular, its strong focus on images rather than words. Consultation with Indigenous groups and individuals, including Mrs Bonner and descendants and family of Mr Vincent Lingiari, has been undertaken. Works approval is now sought for the sixth sliver. The sixth sliver will be approximately 2.5 metres long and 2.8 metres high. The sliver has been designed to meet the Australian standard for visual access, which is AS1428.1, and its height will be consistent with the existing constant horizontal visual line along Reconciliation Place.

As Parliament House Vista is located on the Register of the National Estate, the Australian Heritage Commission has been consulted. The commission expressed its support for the proposed works in its letter of 27 August 2002. The Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories has been advised about the proposed works. The approval of both houses is sought, pursuant to section 5 of the Parliament Act 1974, for the design and siting of the sixth sliver at Reconciliation Place, section 56, Parkes, ACT. The National Capital Authority has advised that it is prepared to grant approval for the works, pursuant to section 12(1)(b) of the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988.

Question agreed to.