LABOR TO PROTECT FIRST NATIONS ART

TONY BURKE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
SHADOW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR WATSON

LINDA BURNEY MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS
MEMBER FOR BARTON

Indigenous artists and businesses will be better protected from the scourge of fake art under an Albanese Labor Government.

Labor welcomes the Morrison Government’s decision to finally act on the bipartisan call for a Productivity Commission review into the First Nations art industry. It’s long overdue: it was first called for in 2018.

Fake ‘Indigenous-style’ art is popular with tourist and souvenir stores.

From paintings to boomerangs, clapping sticks to digeridoos, t-shirts to ties – these misleading products are typically mass produced in places like China and Indonesia with no Indigenous involvement.

These products undercut legitimate artists and devalue genuine Indigenous cultural expression, robbing First Nations artists of income and business opportunities while also misleading consumers.

That’s why we are committing to working with First Nations people to establish stand-alone legislation to protect traditional knowledge and cultural expressions, taking into account the findings of the PC review.

A Labor government would also review the operation of the Indigenous Art Code to identify how it could be better resourced and strengthened. The Arts Code already does important work but it can do more with proper government backing.

We would also seek to reaffirm the importance of Indigenous rights, inclusive trade, sustainable development, traditional knowledge and the protection of the integrity of Indigenous arts and cultural products in future international trade agreements.

Labor supports the rights of Indigenous Australians to protect their cultural and intellectual property.

FRIDAY, 6 AUGUST 2021