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Submissions open: Senate inquiry into Commonwealth arts budget

Recent commentary in the press and online has drawn attention to Commonwealth arts budget decisions.

As part of the 2015-16 budget, the Commonwealth announced:

  • Redirection of $110 million over four years from the Australia Council to the Ministry for the Arts in the Attorney-General’s Department to:
    • establish a National Programme for Excellence in the Arts (NPEA) to be administered by the Ministry for the Arts – while guidelines are yet to be released, Minister Brandis has indicated focus areas will include endowments, international touring and strategic projects, with an emphasis on attracting private sector support
    • transfer the Visions of Australia and Festivals Australia programs and the Major Festivals Initiative to the Ministry for the Arts
    • provide funding to Creative Partnerships Australia for its Plus 1 private sector matched funding program
  • Efficiency savings of $7.3 million over four years to be found by the Australia Council, $3.6 million by Screen Australia and $2.2 million by the Ministry for the Arts
  • Establishment of the Book Council of Australia ($6 million over three years)

In response to concerns raised by arts sector representatives, the Senate has now referred the matter to its Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry. You can read the terms of reference on the Parliament of Australia website, but in essence the committee will consider:

  • Impact of 2014** and 2015 Commonwealth budget decisions on the arts
  • Suitability and appropriateness of the NPEA
  • Effect of funding arrangements on small to medium organisations, individual artists, young and emerging artists, the Australia Council, private sector funding and state and territory arts programs
  • Protection of freedom of artistic expression and prevention of political influence
  • Access to diversity of quality arts and cultural experiences
  • Funding criteria and implementation of NPEA, and potential for duplication

There are six members of the References Committee who will hear this inquiry, half of whom are from Queensland. The Committee’s Chair is Senator Glenn Lazarus (Queensland), the Deputy Chair is Senator the Hon Ian Macdonald (Queensland), and other members include Senator Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania), Senator the Hon Jacinta Collins (Victoria), Senator the Hon Joseph Ludwig (Queensland) and Senator Linda Reynolds (Western Australia).

Arts Queensland will be making a submission to the inquiry. We would be interested in your thoughts and responses to the matters being considered by the Senate. Please share your comments below, or if you prefer to respond privately, you can email aqpolicy@arts.qld.gov.au.

You can also make your own submission to the inquiry. You have three weeks to do this, with contributions due by Friday 17 July. Details about how to make a submission are available on the Parliament of Australia website, including an online submission option or direct email to the committee secretariat (legcon.sen@aph.gov.au).

In making your submission, you may wish to refer to funding data from a Queensland perspective. Here are some sources provided by Arts Queensland that might assist you:

The Senate is due to report on 15 September 2015 and the outcomes will no doubt be watched with interest across the arts sector.

Arts Queensland

** The 2014 budget decisions included: reduced funding of $4.4 million to the Ministry for the Arts, $9.6 million to the Australia Council and $5.2 million to Screen Australia in 2014-15; cessation of the Australian Interactive Games Fund and Get Reading! Program; and continued operational funding for Creative Partnerships Australia.