A SAD DAY FOR THE ARTS IN AUSTRALIA

Today is a sad day for the arts in Australia, with the department responsible for arts policy and funding set to be officially abolished.
 
Not content with their constant cuts to the arts sector, the Morrison Government will tomorrow roll the arts into the new Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
 
Not only is the word “arts” disappearing from the new title – it’s also hard to see how arts policy will flourish or get the attention it needs in a department focused on roads, railways and ports.
 
Given the Liberals’ shocking record of cutting arts funding, this move is a terrible sign of what’s to come in the May budget and for the rest of this Government’s term.
 
The Liberals make the frankly unbelievable claim this demotion won’t diminish their commitment to the arts. But even if that were true it would be cold comfort to a sector that has already endured endless cuts and neglect.
 
Australia’s artists, actors, filmmakers, writers, musicians and broader creative community has every right to be concerned by this change, which was made without any consultation with them.

And it’s not just the people who make their living from our creative industries who should be worried.
 
It’s every member of the public who enjoys seeing Australian stories on the screen or stage, enjoys reading Australian stories on the page, or enjoys hearing live or recorded Australian music.

FRIDAY, 31 JANUARY 2020