16th Oct 2018, 4:04 PM – Senate Motions - Sydney Opera House - Don't use for advertising

The majority voted in favour of a motion introduced by Greens Senator Mahreen Faruqi, which means it succeeded. Motions like these don't change the law themselves but can be politically influential since they represent the will of the Senate.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Sydney Opera House was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2007 in recognition of it being a masterpiece of 20th century architecture,

(ii) the Minister for the Environment has a responsibility to protect the Opera House under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and

(iii) the NSW Liberal Government allowed a promotion for a horse racing event to be displayed on the sails of the Opera House in contravention of state heritage laws, the Opera House Plan of Management and the overwhelming views of the community;

(b) condemns the NSW Government for treating the Opera House as a billboard; and

(c) calls on the Minister for the Environment to take action to protect our cultural icons.