Register of the National Estate

Why is it Significant?

The Register of the National Estate is Australia’s most comprehensive national inventory of natural, Indigenous and historic places considered worthy of conservation and protection for current and future generations.  Compiled and maintained by the Commonwealth’s independent advisor, it identifies over 13,000 places of aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or other special value.

Why is it at Risk?

The 2006 amendments to EPBC Act and the AHC Act 2003 provide for the eventual disbandment of the Register of the National Estate.  From February 2007 no more places have been entered in or removed from the RNE.  In February 2012 the RNE will no longer be a statutory register and will be used only as a data base.  The loss of the RNE puts at high risk a number of listed places in the ACT (see attachment) which are on Commonwealth land and do not have legislative protection from the Commonwealth. 

What needs to be done?

The continued maintenance and operation of the RNE as Australia’s most comprehensive list of local, regional and national heritage places, to ensure that the Australian community continues to understand, recognise and appreciate places of heritage significance and their importance to and the contribution they make to Australian values.