Senate debates
Wednesday, 5 February 2020
Motions
Arts
4:56 pm
Sarah Hanson-Young (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
Before I ask this motion be taken as formal, I would like to add Senator Bilyk as a co-sponsor to the motion, which relates to the contribution of the arts sector and the gutting of the department by this government. I, and also on behalf of Senator Bilyk, move:
That the Senate—
(a) condemns the Government's continued attack on the arts sector, which contributes $111 billion to the Australian economy annually;
(b) calls for the Federal Government to restore funding to the arts, which has been continually devalued and neglected since the Coalition Government was elected in 2013; and
(c) acknowledges the deep and valuable contribution of the arts to the Australian spirit and sense of community, which is in desperate need of repair after this summer of devastating fires.
Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I remind senators that moving a motion is not an opportunity to make a statement about the motion.
4:57 pm
Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
I seek leave to make a short statement.
Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The arts makes a deeply valuable contribution to the Australian spirit and sense of community, and that's a key reason why the Morrison government is providing arts funding at record levels. Approximately $749 million has been committed through the 2019-20 budget to support artists, art organisations, national collecting institutions, national elite performing arts training organisations and audiences and communities across Australia. The premise of parts (a) and (b) of this motion is wrong.
Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
The question is that motion No. 386 be agreed to.