The History Council of NSW says “Alarmingly more power will be placed in the hands of the Minister for Planning, diminishing the status of the Heritage Council of NSW, the body which assesses heritage significance. The Minister for Planning now has the power to recommend pick and choose the criteria by which heritage significance will be assessed, despite NSW being long considered an example of best practice for other states. The Minister can also de-list items off the State Heritage Register more easily.”

"The people of NSW will need to watch very closely how the NSW Government uses this legislation as it poses a serious threat to our state's heritage;" Professor Carment said last week.

The History Council believes that the unique skills and knowledge of a qualified historian are an integral part of the heritage assessment and listing process as they bring context and human understanding to heritage places and items. It also believes that heritage is a vital way that communities find connections with their histories and the past, helping to create and reinforce a sense of identity and place.

The History Council of NSW is the peak body for history in this state and represents over 22,000 people from across the history community, including cultural institutions, academia, public and professional historians, educators, community and local historical societies.