Liberals’ arts policy non-existent
The Abbott-Turnbull government is going to the 2016 election without an arts policy.
Shadow arts minister Mark Dreyfus QC says the Liberals and their arts minister Mitch Fifield have nothing positive to say about the arts.
“They have made no attempt to repair the damage that has been done in the last three years,” Dreyfus said.
“Ahead of the ArtsPeak debate, the sector had been rife with rumours Senator Fifield would use it to launch the Turnbull government’s arts policy.
“That space is entirely blank.”
“Senator Fifield himself said ‘watch this space’.
“For two uncomfortable hours we watched and waited — and it turns out that space is entirely blank.
“Senator Fifield came to the debate with nothing to say at all.
“All he could give was a pledge to consult, and a promise that he was willing to ‘refine’ and ‘adjust’ the government’s arts programs.
“This is after three years of government and nine months of Senator Fifield’s tenure as minister,” he said.
Dreyfus said there has been no consultation with the sector so far.
“The brutal $105m cut to the Australia Council came with no warning at all,” Dreyfus said.
“Solution to the current crisis in arts funding was to promise some weird form of ‘trickle-down economics’.”
“The arts sector is right to be sceptical of an election-eve promise the Turnbull government will finally inspect how bad the situation is that it has created.
“Senator Fifield’s solution to the current crisis in arts funding was to promise some weird form of ‘trickle-down economics’ — that if only more people were wealthy enough to buy art, everything would be fixed.
“That is patently ridiculous.
“It is clear the Abbott-Turnbull government and Senator Fifield have nothing to offer the arts community at this election but their legacy of brutal cuts,” he said.
Labor has a clear, comprehensive and fully-costed plan to boost the arts sector and make Australia a more creative country.
“Only Labor has a visionary and achievable arts policy.”
The shadow minister said the arts will be central to a Shorten Labor government.
Labor will:
- Restore the standing of the Australia Council for the Arts.
- Grow regional arts.
- Strengthen live music.
- Boost music in schools.
- Invest in screen drama.
- Carefully consult on copyright.
- Support community radio.
“It was obvious from the arts debate that only Labor has a visionary and achievable arts policy,” Dreyfus said.
“Labor is the party of the arts, and we are proud to stand with the arts community against the destructive agenda of the Abbott-Turnbull government,” he added.
