MARK DREYFUS MP

THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP

SHADOW ATTORNEY-GENERAL

SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS

MEMBER FOR ISAACS

INQUIRY INTO SENATOR BRANDIS ARTS SLUSH FUND

Art groups will have the opportunity previously denied to them to let the Abbott Government know what they think of its decision to strip $105 million from the Australia Council.

The Senate overwhelmingly voted to establish an inquiry into Senator Brandis decision to gut the Australia Council, in order for him to establish a personal slush fund to support his pet arts projects.

What made the vote significant is that all eight cross-bench Senators and the Greens voted to support the inquiry, proposed by Labor, through the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee.

In an attempt to block further scrutiny, the Coalition voted against the proposed inquiry.

Senator Brandis has previously confirmed that he consulted with no arts groups and only informed the Australia Council hours before announcing the funding cut in the Budget.

As yet, Senator Brandis has produced no funding criteria for his new so-called National Program for Excellence in the Arts, which is due to start in two weeks time.

I invite all arts groups particularly young, emerging and regional artists to make submissions and let the Abbott Government know what they think of Senator Brandis new fund, shadow Arts Minister Mark Dreyfus said.

The inquiry will report by Tuesday, 15 September 2015.

WEDNESDAY, 17 JUNE 2015

TERMS OF REFERENCE

The following matters be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by Thursday 25 June 2015:

1. the impact of 2014 and 2015 Commonwealth Budget decisions on the Arts

2. the suitability and appropriateness of the establishment of a National Programme for Excellence in the Arts, to be administered by the Ministry for the Arts, with particular reference to:

   (a) the effect on funding arrangements for:

   (i) small to medium arts organisations,

   (ii) individual artists,

   (iii) young and emerging artists,

   (iv) the Australia Council,

   (v) private sector funding of the arts,

   (vi) state and territory programs of support to the arts.

(b) protection of freedom of artistic expression and prevention of political influence;

(c) access to a diversity of quality arts and cultural experiences;

(d) the funding criteria and implementation processes to be applied to the programme;

(e) implications of any duplication of administration and resourcing; and

(f) any related matter.