Report recommends natural history museum for parliamentary triangle
A parliamentary committee report into Canberra's national institutions has called for the creation of a natural history museum.
The report, handed down on Wednesday, also recommended relocating the Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies from its current home on the Acton Peninsula to the parliamentary triangle.
The committee said there was overwhelming support for the creation of a natural history museum from the ACT government, and called on the federal government to develop a business case.
"While there are currently various national institutions that focus on aspects of Australia's natural history and sciences, there is scope for a more integrated public scientific and research institution," the report said.
Speaking on ABC radio on Thursday, the committee's chair, Liberal MP Ben Morton, said such a museum would be a chance for all Australians to learn about the nation's biodiversity.
"It's really important when we look at science, technology, engineering and mathematics activity in Canberra," Mr Morton said.
"Bringing that together for the natural history museum is where Australian can learn about biodiversity and not just plants and animals, but our marine species, too.
"There should be more done to provide a home to have that side of Australia as well."
Mr Morton said the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander centre should be relocated, saying it was shame the only Aboriginal representation in the parliamentary triangle was one of protest at the tent embassy.
"It's not reflective of the Indigenous heritage and culture and language that the present focus in the triangle was one of protest," he said.
"We need to also include in the parliamentary zone one that explains and demonstrates with visitors the rich culture and heritage of Indigenous Australians."
The institute's chief executive Craig Ritchie welcomed the committee's report and agreed with the proposal to move the institute to a more central location.
"We've been calling for that for some time," Mr Ritchie said.
"It's not an alternative to the tent embassy, but a complement. Our position is that the embassy is there and says something about advocacy and agency of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our pursuit of our rights, and it's an important statement of that."
The report also criticised the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, saying its scope had "crept from its core focus and role".
"The committee has concerns about the disconnect between [the museum's] fundamental strategic role and the direction of some of its engagement with the public," the report said.
Mr Morton the museum was primarily open only to school students, with very little for the wider community to learn about Australian democratic processes.
"We're coming up to 10 years of the museum's existence and there's a focus on projects there that we think may be left to academia and the media to analyse," he said.