OF NEW SOUTH WALES
PO Box 136 Jannali NSW 2226 Australia

26 July 2005

Heritage Inquiry Productivity Commission PO Box 80
Belconnen ACT 2616
To Whom It May Concern

The response following does not necessarily apply to conservation of historic heritage places but it does to conservation of historic heritage items.

Our group, the Arms Collectors Guild of New South Wales (ACG NSW) meets monthly and has as its members dedicated collectors who attempt to ensure that items of history and heritage are retained in Australia.

Members own private collections and meetings allow discussion of the significance of collected items, their provenance and history. Members are able to observe and become aware of the technological advances that at the time of the development of the specific item were of interest.

The group contributes greatly to the conservation of historic, heritage items and as such allows the nation the benefit of having significant items (ie from the gold rush era) retained in Australia.

Impediments to conservation of items collected and preserved by our group include:
•	Costs involved in licensing some items, especially those that have been
incorrectly defined by some State authorities and
•	The cost of insurance.
Our group is quite small and generally meets in a venue that is covered by its own public risk insurance. As a collecting group, recognised by the New South Wales government, we must, by law carry an insurance policy. This expense is considerable.

We respectfully request that the Heritage Inquiry Productivity Commission consider the costs of licensing and of insurance and the adverse effect that such costs have on the viability of small groups and individuals to continue to preserve historic and heritage items of national significance.

Yours faithfully
Hon. Secretary, John McKenna