Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I think it is important to note that, in the budget announcement, there were, in addition to the program for excellence, a number of elements which were in fact returning to the Ministry for the Arts programs that had previously been with the Ministry for the Arts. I think there is nothing exceptional about that.

As I indicated, we embarked upon a process of consultation with those in the sector for a deliberate reason in relation to the program for excellence. It was because we wanted to have the benefit of their views, the benefit of their input, and I am currently looking at that input. I am also aware of the Senate inquiry which is underway. Just because a Senate inquiry was born in partisanship and conducted in partisanship, it does not mean that the witnesses who appear before that committee might not have some useful things to say so, obviously, I will be looking at that evidence as well.