Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Milne, move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the importance of the Australian National Academy of Music as a unique institution for the cultivation of Australia’s finest classical musicians;

(b)

deplores statements by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts (Mr Garrett) casting aspersions on the efficiency and effectiveness of the academy; and

(c)

calls on the Government immediately to reinstate Commonwealth funding to the Australian National Academy of Music for the 2008-09 financial year in the amount of $2 545 000, as originally promised by the Rudd Government.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave granted.

On behalf of Senators Kroger and Brandis—who I know were very anxious to talk on this matter but, because of time constraints, have not done so—I record their very strong support for this motion.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—The Australian government remains committed to the provision of elite level classical music training in Australia. On Friday, 31 October the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts met with a number of representatives from the sector, including a delegation of ANAM students, and reiterated the government’s determination to provide ongoing funding for our talented musicians. The government believes that the funding previously provided to ANAM could be spent more effectively to deliver support for emerging classical musicians. The government is now investigating possible models for the most effective delivery of elite level classical music training in Australia and expects to announce an alternative shortly which will ensure continuity for students and provide a stable, long-term program for music training.

Question agreed to.