MARK DREYFUS MP

Coalition members of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee must agree to an urgent inquiry into why a letter from Man Haron Monis, sent to the Attorney-General nine weeks before the Lindt Cafe siege in Sydney, was withheld from a review into the tragedy.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott must explain why a letter from Man Haron Monis sent to George Brandis only nine weeks before the Sydney Lindt Cafe siege was withheld from the inquiry into the tragedy.

Labor will move to establish a Senate inquiry into the Coalition's new arts slush fund.

The Abbott Government's politically-motivated decision to strip over $100 million from the independent Australia Council has been revealed at a chaotic Senate Estimates hearing as policy making on the run which will hurt small and medium sized arts organisations and emerging artists.

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.