Kate Lundy (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

In spite of Senator Brandis's comments, I would like to thank all senators for their contributions to the debate on this important piece of legislation. It comes at an exciting time for the arts and culture in Australia. We are deepening our cultural exchange with Asia and the government is finalising the national cultural policy. This bill further develops our cultural wealth by directly supporting international cultural exhibitions in Australia and it does that by establishing a scheme to protect cultural objects on loan from overseas. The legislation also addresses a significant obstacle in Australia's major cultural institutions that they face in securing loans from overseas. In the absence of legislation it became increasingly difficult for these institutions to secure loans of cultural objects. This bill addresses that obstacle.

The bill deals with objects that are normally in a foreign country but are imported into Australia on loan for temporary public exhibition under arrangements made by institutions approved by the minister. It seeks to achieve the objective by limiting the circumstances in which the ownership, physical possession, custody or control of the objects can be affected by the objects in Australia. The legislation will reassure foreign lenders that Australia is a secure destination for loans of cultural objects and enable our great cultural institutions to successfully compete for world-class exhibitions. It aligns Australia with numerous other countries that have implemented legislation to protect cultural objects on loan from overseas. It will also ensure Australians continue to have access to the art works and cultural objects from the great collections around the world. As Minister Crean noted when he introduced the legislation, many of Australia's leading cultural institutions are planning exciting and ambitious future exhibition programs and this legislation will provide vital support to those activities. I commend this bill to the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.