MARK DREYFUS MP

Labor will ask a Senate inquiry into the establishment of the Coalition's new $105 million arts slush fund to look into claims that Senator George Brandis has already paid over $1 million to a group connected to one of his staff.

Labor congratulates Mr Moriarty on his appointment.

The Abbott Government is stubbornly refusing to provide more legal assistance funding despite clear evidence that those most in need will miss out from its mean-spirited budget.

Young and emerging artists have borne the brunt of the politically-motivated decision by the Abbott Government to slash $110 million from the Australia Council.

Cuts by the Abbott Government to vital legal assistance services under a proposed funding agreement with State and Territory Governments will hurt the most vulnerable Australians.

The Abbott Government's cuts to the Australia Council have been shown up by Senator Brandis as an ideologically-driven attack on the independent funding of arts.

The Abbott Government's failure to properly fund legal assistance services for vulnerable Australians has been underlined by a public appeal for donations by one of Australia's oldest community legal centres.

In an attempt to win favour with the right-wing of the Liberal Party, Malcolm Turnbull has today endorsed weakening protections against racist hate speech.

Twelve million dollars a year will be slashed from vital legal assistance services for vulnerable Australians as part of an Abbott Government budget designed to secure its short-term political future.

Senator George Brandis is in denial over short-sighted funding cuts to the National Cultural Institutions in the Abbott Government's Budget.