WHEN it was established in 1997, the National Heritage Trust (NHT) was
heralded by the Howard government as the biggest environmental repair programme
in Australia’s history. The allocation of A$1.25 billion to thousands of
projects was the political sugar used to coat the pill of selling 49 per cent of
Telstra.
Now a mid-term review of the Trust has been released, and it paints a
depressing picture. It suggests the programme has made little impact. One reason
is lack of scientific advice, but there is also evidence that political
considerations have led to the money being spread too thinly to…
