KATY GALLAGHER
SHADOW MINISTER FOR FINANCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE
SENATOR FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
ANDREW LEIGH
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR TREASURY
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR CHARITIES
MEMBER FOR FENNER
ALICIA PAYNE
MEMBER FOR CANBERRA
DAVID SMITH
MEMBER FOR BEAN
MOVES TO PROTECT AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL HISTORICAL RECORDS STOP SHORT OF TUNE REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS
Federal Labor’s four representatives from the Australian Capital Territory welcome the Government’s decision to provide the funds required to complete the vital digitisation work at the National Archives, noting this falls well short of the total increase recommended by the Tune Review.
The Tune review of the National Archives, commissioned back in 2019, highlighted “substantial” problems, including deteriorating documents and lack of resourcing.
The Government has finally responded to public outrage, political pressure from local MPs and recent media coverage of the precious national heritage at risk, including wartime records and even records of the Bounty mutineers.
The Government is still yet to fully respond to the National Capital and External Territories Committee’s report into our Cultural Institutions from April 2019, or provide the funding to protect Australia’s cultural heritage stored at other national institutions.
Senator Gallagher said: “If there wasn’t as much waste, so many rorts and blatant mismanagement under this Government, the Canberra community could have seen a proper response to protect treasured national historical records from the Government much sooner.”
Andrew Leigh MP questioned where the remaining funding recommended by the Tune review was: “There was a clear recommendation for the full digitisation of records, and today’s announcement won’t get anywhere near that.”
David Smith MP, who sat on committee inquiry, called on the Morrison Government to get on with the job of properly resourcing our important national cultural intuitions: “Since being elected eight long years ago, staffing has been cut and resourcing has been cut. We have lost precious expertise and some of our nation’s history will never be recovered.”
Alicia Payne MP highlighted the Government’s lack of action or respect for Canberra: “Why does the Morrison Government need to be dragged kicking and screaming to preserve Australia’s national history? Our National Institutions have been ignored and disrespected for too long and should not be forced to crowd fund to preserve our national history.”
FRIDAY, 2 JULY 2021
MEDIA CONTACTS:
GEORGIA LEAK (GALLAGHER) 0478 773 015
BRYCE WILSON (SMITH) 0427 544 368
TONY HODGES (LEIGH) 0435 594 552
TASMAN VAUGHAN (PAYNE) 0435 933 313
