Rod Kemp (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for the Arts and Sport) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable senator for that very important question and for his continuing interest in the arts. Those who follow the government’s great record in the arts know that regular announcements on the arts are made, most recently on the Playing Australia program, which ensures that many of our performing arts companies can travel around Australia. This government has given a very high priority to the arts. To see that, you only have to look at the levels of funding for the arts now compared with the funding levels under the previous government. You only have to look at the support we have given through the Nugent report, the Strong report and the Myer report to various areas of the arts to see the priority this government has given to the arts. People in regional and rural Australia praise the initiatives that we have taken.

Senator Eggleston asked about alternative policies. A speech by the ninth shadow arts spokesman, Peter Garrett, has come into my hands. It is a unique speech. I do not commend it, but it does make some interesting points. Of course, it does give a spray to some of my colleagues. One would expect that from a shadow arts spokesman. Surprisingly, the speech also gives a spray to members of the Labor Party. Interestingly, it refers to ‘pollies of all persuasions’ giving priority to sport, rather than the arts. If the shadow arts spokesman is speaking about his colleagues in the Senate or the House of Representatives, I can give him many names of Labor Party members and senators who have shown a good interest in the arts.