The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Amendment Bill 2021 had its Second Reading on Tuesday 1 June 2021.
The debate was unanimously in support of the Bill. The speeches resounded with three important outcomes ensured by the Bill, outcomes fought hard for by HPG.
that Trust sites will remain in Commonwealth hands in perpetuity,
that the Board will be refreshed with the skills needed to manage the sites in line with the objects of the Act, and
that there will be no leases over 35 years and those over 25 will go to the community for consultation and will be subject to the checks and balances from the Parliament and the Minister.
Each of the speakers spoke about the important role of the community in ensuring the protection of these lands and the role of the Headland Preservation Group (HPG) in bringing about this outcome.
Download a PDF of the transcript of the debate here →
HPG has worked to ensure the Amendment Bill will serve to preserve and protect Sydney Harbour Trust lands in perpetuity. HPG held meetings with key decision-makers, including senior Trust executives and Members of Parliament, to press HPG's position and consult on the legislation's content and drafting.
The following politicians spoke passionately in support of the Bill:
Josh Wilson Shadow Minister for the Environment
Trent Zimmerman, Member for North Sydney
Dave Sharma, Member for Wentworth
Hon. Anthony Albanese, Leader of the Opposition
Dr Fiona Martin, Member for Reid
Hon. Tanya Plibersek, Member for Sydney
Zali Steggall OAM, Member for Warringah
Hon. Sussan Ley, Minister for the Environment
Quotes from the Debate:
“It is the local people who make the case for protecting the things we will share. That has been the case with these sites in Sydney Harbour, and I want particularly to thank community organisations like the Headland Preservation Group for their unstinting work. I acknowledge HPG’s president, Jill L’Estrange, for her energy, commitment, patience and professionalism. I also acknowledge Linda Bergin OAM, who has been a tireless advocate for the protection of these sites since the trust’s inception.” – JOSH WILSON
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“It’s a long-held view of mine that transferring these sites to others, be they local councils or the New South Wales government, would be a missed opportunity to preserve them as part of the nation’s historical legacy, the nation’s great gesture of inheritance….”
…”So I am thrilled that today we have the opportunity to make the life of the trust permanent…..I particularly want to acknowledge the work of the Headland Preservation Group, currently led by Jill L’Estrange, who engaged so effectively and so well with the Minister for the Environment on this legislation.”
“What this Bill does is one simple thing – and it removes any suggestion that the trust is a transitional body and that this land would somehow be lost to the Commonwealth and transferred to other levels of government or maybe ever the private sector. It says the trust is here to stay.” – TRENT ZIMMERMAN
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“However, following community advocacy, particularly by the Headland Preservation Group, on 16 March the government announced that it had halted plans to allow leases over 35 years on Sydney Harbour Federation Trust land……I congratulate HPG on their advocacy efforts. They have been working tirelessly in the background for almost 24 years to protect these lands.” – ZALI STEGGALL