Turnbull government threatens arts sector
Greens’ arts spokesperson Adam Bandt has condemned the Turnbull government’s latest round of cuts to arts and cultural funding in this week’s MYEFO budget update.
“Just weeks ago a Senate inquiry into the Brandis funding disaster recommended that the government restore the full amount of funds diverted from the Australia Council in the 2014 MYEFO and the 2015 Budget. For the government to strip further funding from the arts pours salt into the wounds of an industry that is still suffering from multiple funding cuts” said Mr Bandt
“The diversion of the $6 million originally taken from the Australia Council to set up the Book Council back into government savings shows the Turnbull government has no plan for a sustainable arts sector.”
“Leaders in the arts community are now warning us that funding for Australian arts has hit unsustainable levels and that small to medium arts organisations are feeling the full force of these cuts. It is clear that a transitional funding arrangement is needed to ensure the viability of many small to medium arts organisations in both the short and long term.”
“The Greens call on the government to halt all cuts to arts funding, reverse the Screen Australia cuts and restore full funding to the Australia Council, including the $6 million from the never launched Book Council.”