The Greens welcome the news that Willow Court has been accepted as a member to the International Sites of Conscience. Willow Court is one of Tasmania, indeed Australia’s most important historical sites with many layers of heritage, human rights and social significance.
Willow Court’s history is a part of the same convict story of presently conserved sites such as the Female Factory, Orphan School, and Port Arthur, which some the Willow Court buildings predate.
This globally significant recognition requires both the state and federal government to finally come to the table with the necessary funding for site preservation. The Greens have been advocating for this investment in Parliament and in the media.
For too long State and Federal Governments have sat by as Willow Court has falling into further disrepair and vandalised. The size and significance of this site is beyond the realistic management of the council, and a serious discussion for future management must be had.
While the Willow Court site use has been a long running conversation, all can agree that now is the time for change, for a strategy to be put in place, and investment sought to ensure Willow Court’s future as a site of conscious, of important heritage and human rights.
With the global spotlight now on our state to do what is right at Willow Court, we call on the Tasmanian Liberals to work with the Federal Goverment to sure up funding for Willow Court and begin remediating the site.
