Chapter 1 - Introduction

  1. Introduction

A National Capital is more than a city. As the Seat of Government, it requires a symbolic presence to promote a sense of national identity. It is not too outlandish to regard the Capital as a symbol of the ideals, dreams, aspirations, achievements, culture, and history of the Nation.[1]

1.1Canberra is the National Capital of Australia. In 2022–23, it attracted 5.5 million visitors. It is also home to more than 450,000 residents. Through the National Capital, visitors and residents experience the cultural, historical, and political significance of Australia. It is important that Australia’s capital be equipped to meet the expectations and needs of a city designed to reflect who we are as Australians as well as provide for those who live there.

1.2On 17 March 2023, the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, the Hon Kristy McBain MP, referred to the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories (the Committee) an inquiry into ways to foster and promote the significance of Australia’s National Capital. A copy of the terms of reference is at page xi.

1.3The inquiry was advertised on 21 March 2023, and submissions were invited from a range of stakeholders including ACT and Commonwealth Government departments, National Institutions, business, arts, and tourism organisations, and community and resident groups.

1.4The Committee received 47 submissions which are listed in Appendix A, and three additional documents, which are listed in Appendix C. Nine public hearings were held in Canberra between June and September 2023. Details of the public hearings, including witnesses, are listed in Appendix B.

Past reports

1.5Several parliamentary and government reports have considered issues related to Australia’s National Capital. This includes the National Institutions, the role of the National Capital Authority (NCA), the Griffin legacy, and connectivity within the National Triangle.

1.6Previous NCA publications referred to in this report include:

  • Parliamentary Zone Review Outcomes (2000).[2]
  • Canberra the Nation’s Capital in the 21st Century: The Griffin Legacy (2004).[3]
    1. The Committee has tabled three reports which address the National Capital:
  • A National Capital, A Place to Live: Inquiry into the role of the National Capital Authority (2004).[4]
  • The Way Forward: Inquiry into the role of the National Capital Authority (2008).[5]
  • Telling Australia’s story – and why it’s important: Report on the inquiry into Canberra’s national institutions (2019).[6]
    1. Similar issues are discussed and progressed in this report.

Structure of the report

1.9This report consists of six chapters:

  • Chapter 1 (this chapter) briefly outlines the conduct and scope of the inquiry.
  • Chapter 2 examines the accessibility of the National Institutions and more broadly the Capital itself. It considers modes of transport used to visit National Institutions, and the Canberra to Sydney train line.
  • Chapter 3 discusses how the National Institutions convey Australia’s national story. Methods examined include digital accessibility of collections, access to collections for regional and rural communities, and collaboration between the National Institutions. This chapter also explores educational outreach.
  • Chapter 4 considers the impact of the Territory’s sporting facilities on Australia’s sporting potential. Specific consideration is given to the infrastructure needs of sports played in the Capital.
  • Chapter 5 discusses arts and business facilities. In particular, the state of existing facilities and what may be required to improve them.
  • Chapter 6 explores collaborative approaches between the Commonwealth and the ACT governments to promote a shared understanding of Australia’s story through the National Capital.

Scope of the inquiry

1.10The Committee acknowledges the terminology used to describe the National Institutions may differ from other contexts and reports. Other terms include ‘National Cultural Institutions’ and ‘National Collecting Institutions’.

1.11For this inquiry, National Institutions refer to those institutions which are based in Canberra. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts identifies the following Canberra based National Institutions as National Cultural Institutions:

Acknowledgements

1.14The Committee acknowledges the work of stakeholders committed to promoting and fostering Australia’s National Capital. It appreciates the contributions made by organisations and individuals who provided written submissions and appeared at public hearings.

Footnotes

[1]National Capital Planning Authority, Looking to the Future: Australia's National Capital, 1995.

[2]National Capital Authority, Parliamentary Zone Review Outcomes, March 2000.

[3]National Capital Authority, Canberra the Nation’s Capital in the 21st Century: The Griffin Legacy, 2004

[4]Parliament of Australia, Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories, ANational Capital, A Place to Live: Inquiry into the role of the National Capital Authority, July 2004.

[5]Parliament of Australia, Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories, The Way Forward: Inquiry into the role of the National Capital Authority, July 2008.

[6]Parliament of Australia, Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories, Telling Australia’s story – and why it’s important: Report on the inquiry into Canberra’s national institutions, April 2019.

[7]Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, ‘Impact of our National Cultural Institutions’, 2022, accessed 17 October 2023; National Cultural Institutions outside of the National Capital include the Australian National Maritime Museum; the Bundanon Trust; Australia Council of the Arts; the Australian Film, Television and Radio School; and Screen Australia.

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