IN the last hour of parliament on the final sitting day of the year, federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley approved the destruction of the Australian War Memorial’s award-winning exhibition gallery space, Anzac Hall.

It’s a decision which the Australian Institute of Architects’ past president and #handsoffAnzacHall campaign spokesperson, Clare Cousins, says undermines confidence in Australia’s heritage protection framework and the operation of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

“The expert heritage advice from multiple government-commissioned and independent assessments regarding the adverse impacts knocking down Anzac Hall will have on the site’s heritage values was unanimous and has been ignored by the minister,” Ms Cousins says.

“It is nonsensical to suggest that any of the 29 conditions can, or will, ‘minimise and mitigate’ the impacts from demolishing a building in its entirety – there can be no bigger impact on a building than its total destruction.

“This is a disgraceful decision that sets a dangerous precedent for the future of our nation’s heritage. It comes towards the end of a deeply flawed process notable for its lack of transparency and genuine consultation.

“Announcing the outcome for such a controversial proposal in the last hour of parliament on the final sitting day of the year can only be seen as a calculated attempt to once again avoid the scrutiny and criticism the government knew this decision would attract.”

ACT chapter president Shannon Battisson agrees with Ms Cousins, saying the decision was an abject failure of government to meaningfully consider the community’s perspectives on the project.

“This is a bitterly disappointing decision that reflects a comprehensive failure to listen to the advice of experts and the wishes of the community alike,” Ms Battisson says.

“We should not be pulling down a building that has been so successful in its aim to pay respect to veterans.

“While architects may have spearheaded the campaign to save Anzac Hall, it is abundantly clear in everything from submissions to social media that our concerns are widely shared across the broader community.

“This is the wanton destruction of a much-loved public space and all the talent and effort – not to mention taxpayer dollars – that went into it.

“Anzac Hall was designed to stand and stand with expansion for 30, 40, 50 years to come. To condemn it to the scrap heap now is a real travesty.

“Approving the destruction of Anzac Hall, when the site’s Heritage Management Plan expressly requires its conservation, is one of the most appalling examples of disregarding heritage protections and rubber-stamping a major public project in recent memory.

“Failing to consider Anzac Hall as part of the Australian War Memorial’s heritage also dismisses the past two decades’ of history and the memories among the veteran community and others created in the space.”

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester welcomed the announcement, saying: “The memorial holds a sacred place in the hearts of Australians and we must ensure that those from contemporary conflicts have their stories told — in peacekeeping and operational conflicts including East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.

“It is important that veterans today can take their families, their children or loved ones to the Memorial and see their story, and by expanding the Memorial we can tell these stories and continue to have a positive impact on the lives of our contemporary veterans.”

Australian War Memorial director Matt Anderson said that he also welcomed the outcome, which follows amendments and undertakings the memorial made through public consultation, as one of the first of three major approval processes required to progress the proposed development.

“The expansion of our galleries will allow the memorial to honour the commitment of the 100,000 Australians who have served our country over the past 30 years,” he said.