Thu, 8th May 2008

Happy Birthday Old Parliament House

The Hon Dr Sharman Stone MP
Shadow Minister for Environment, Heritage, the Arts and Indigenous Affairs

Old Parliament House in Canberra turns 81 tomorrow. While the Rudd Labor Government has already cut arts and museum budgets across the board, it is important that they do more than simply expect a grand place like Old Parliament House to live on less, Shadow Minister for Environment, Heritage, the Arts and Indigenous Affairs, Dr Sharman Stone, said.

“It is 81 years since the opening of Old Parliament House and 20 years since the parliament moved up the hill. Since 1988 Old Parliament House has become a portrait museum and more recently a centre of research excellence for Australian political research.

“Old Parliament House has also been rejuvenated. Now visitors can sit in the Chambers where governments were formed and defeated and where some of our most impassioned and important political speeches were made.

“Unfortunately the Rudd Labor Government’s imposition of a two per cent efficient dividend will also affect the funding of important buildings such as Old Parliament House. It is not appropriate to cut funding when its guardians are re-thinking its direction as the National Portrait Gallery moves to a new home

“The future of Old Parliament House needs careful consideration and planning. Now is not the time to cut funds to such a special place.