Report of the National Estate: Report of the Committee of Inquiry Into the National Estate

Pt I, chap. 1-2, p.20-37; Definitions, why preserve it; Pt II, chap. 3-4, p.44-163; The natural environment, the built environment; chap. 5, p.166188; Aboriginal sites and other special areas; Aboriginal sites - comments on lack of knowledge about & regard for culture of Aborigines, problems (rights of Aborigines to choose their own life style, interest in sites even where no Aborigines with traditional ties remain, poor protection in past), programmes already initiated to identify & record sites (including A.I.A.S. work), number of important sites still in private hands, need to have national Government accept responsibility for protection, need to accept Aboriginal wishes regarding certain sites, recognition of importance of whole sites not only rock art which may be associated, importance of sites without any signs of use or occupation, need for archaeological examination of abandoned sites (e.g. Tasmania); inventory of Aboriginal sites - outline of work already started, threats from mining exploration & exploitation; legislative protection - outline of legislation in force & its strengths & weaknesses (especially N.T.), notes lack of agreement on portable relics & penalties for offences, need for supervision of public utilities & to prevent use of midden material for roads etc., recommendations uniform legislation for protection, opportunities for Aborigines to be consulted in drafting process; historic & other sites, caves (notes Aboriginal use of caves & rock overhangs); chap. 6, p.192-198; Cultural property - need to preserve items (notes W.A. Museum scheme to construct storehouses for Aboriginal sacred artifacts); need to control sale of cultural property; Pt III, chap. 7-8, p.206-291; Constitutional constraints (notes Australian Government powers to legislate for all Aborigines); role of the Australian Government; chap. 9, p.256270; Taxation; chap. 10 p.274-291; New tasks for the Australian Government; Pt IV, chap. 11-12, p.298-327; Education for conservation (notes W.A. Museum suggestion to train Aboriginal field officers & wardens to control Aboriginal sites), voluntary organisations; Pt V, p.334-349; Findings & recommendations (restates those listed in earlier chapters); p.352-399; Appendix A - Test of Unesco Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage; Appendix B - Committee meetings; Appendix C - List of those who made submissions and/or appeared before the Committee; Appendix D - Australian participation in international conventions & agreements; Appendix E - Overseas legislation & practices; Appendix F Text of recommendations to Minister for Urban & Regional Development & Minister for the Environment & Conservation (1973); Appendix G - Notes on vegetation types; Appendix H - Conservation through reservation in the States (legal aspects); p.402415; Footnotes; includes illustrations of bogong moths (p.272) and fish traps (p.292-293)