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Thursday, 11 October 2012
Page: 7973

Senator RHIANNON (New South Wales) (12:09): I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 969, standing in my name for today, relating to the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct before asking that it be taken as a formal motion.

Leave granted.

Senator RHIANNON: Thank you. I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct Association and the Parramatta Female Factory Friends/Action Group are campaigning to include Australia's oldest existing female convict establishment on the National Heritage List,

(ii) in August 2012, the New South Wales Government announced the development of a master plan for the Parramatta Heritage Precinct and proposed a public/private enterprise to enable the 'adaptive reuse' of the heritage sites for commercial and residential purposes, posing a threat to its heritage values,

(iii) the Community Affairs References Committee report Forgotten Australians (2004) calls for 'the Commonwealth and State Governments, in conjunction with the Churches and agencies, to provide funding for the erection of suitable memorials commemorating care leavers', and

(iv) the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs report Half Way to Equal (1992) recommends the establishment of a 'National Women's Place', recognising women's history and contribution; and

(b) calls on the Government to consider:

(i) including the National Heritage List nomination relating to the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct in the 2013-14 final Priority Assessment List,

(ii) supporting the establishment of a statutory authority with the expertise to conserve and interpret the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct for all Australians, in accordance with the Burra Charter guidelines, and

(iii) contributing funding to act on the recommendations of the Forgotten Australians report, including to create a memorial garden, plaque and a heritage centre at the Precinct using the buildings and grounds of the former Parramatta Girls Home, which forms part of the Precinct.

Question agreed to.