10 November 2007

Peter Garrett MP
Shadow Minister for Arts

I want to extend a very warm welcome to everyone here and to specially thank David Wenham for his MC role, Tim Freedman, Sarah Blasko, Mark Seymour, Tamsin Carroll and Perry Keyes for performing. How good it is to hear Aussie music in the midst of an election campaign?

And thank you to all the artists – from all backgrounds - who've come out today, who have made it clear that they want to see new leadership in this country – that they want to see a Rudd Labor Government.

This venue has brought a range of great performances and works to the people of Western Sydney, since I saw Jimmy Chi’s ground breaking indigenous musical Brand Nue Dae here years ago.

Venues like Riverside play multiple roles; they present and promote creative works, this nourishes community, and in the process grows a sustainable economy.

Since 2005 I have had the immense privilege of working on the development of Labor’s vision for the arts in this country; it’s an opportunity I’ve relished.

Far and away the most pressing concern resonating through our arts community has been the genuine lack of respect and support from the current government for artists.

This was writ large in September of this year when the Treasurer - he who would be Prime Minister - openly derided and attacked those artists who inspire and enrich our lives, and who add immeasurably to the soul of the country. Poor old artists he said.

It’s an all-too-familiar ritual from the Howard Government in using the arts as a punching bag, in wearing philistinism like a badge of honour. But it’s such a sterile view.

And the very next day, the Minister for the Arts, Senator Brandis, was given the task of picking up the pieces in a National Press Club Address.

The worst thing you could do, the Minister told us, was to think of artists as members of communities, as taxpayers, as Australians who want free speech, enhanced education or opportunities to help build sustainable businesses – anything outside of the ”self-sufficient” bubble in which he presumes our artists to exist.

I want to make it very clear that Labor doesn’t view the arts as quarantined from the rest of the Australian community – because we believe the arts are, together with our rich cultural heritage and the spirit of our community.

And I’m here today to outline our plan where, with a Rudd Labor Government, artists will be celebrated and respected for their role in shaping our identity, informing our sense of who we are and of course playing a valuable role in building social and economic pathways to the future.

A fundamental step in recognising the place of artists in our community is in respecting the artistic voice, and recognising the principle of artistic freedom of expression.

And I’m talking here about the Howard Government’s sedition clauses in the original drafting of the Anti-Terror bill, clauses which clearly engendered concern amongst the artistic community.

I want to clearly re-state: Labor will remove the term ‘sedition’ from federal criminal law.

And as we recognise the importance of respecting the artistic voice, we also recognise that there is a role for government in amplifying this voice, in all its richness and diversity, throughout our community.

The funding commitments I’m announcing today will not only increase the overall level of financial support the arts receive, but will equip our artists with the tools to build sustainable and rewarding careers.

Labor would boost the funding of the Australia Council to ensure our local communities are creative communities. We want to increase the opportunities for local arts organisations to flourish – organisations like the Parramatta Arts Co-operative, represented here today.

I’m also announcing $17 million for a new Creative Industries Innovation Centre to give a real boost to our arts entrepreneurs and researchers.

This is recognition that the way we think about creativity, and the relationship between artistic practice, innovation and economic activity, is being transformed.

We need to give ourselves the best chance of tapping into this emerging global economy – to become major suppliers of software, images, sounds and designs to an increasingly content-hungry world.

Staying on the world stage, Federal Labor would increase funding to the critically important National Arts and Craft Industry Support program, to provide a much-needed boost in funding for Aboriginal Art Centres.

Indigenous art makes a profound cultural and economic contribution, and Aboriginal Art Centres play a central role in the production of Indigenous art. They are the backbone of the industry and deserve to be supported.

Closer to home, and close to my own heart, I’m announcing a small initiative that will provide a big boost for Aussie musicians.

There’s a misconception out there that when international artists come to our shores, they’re required to hire local bands and musicians as support acts.

In fact, there is no migration regulation to this effect. The regulations as they currently stand provide a loophole that allows Australian artists to fall through the cracks.

Labor wants international touring productions to employ at least one local band or artist as a support act and will amend current migration regulations to help make this happen.

It’s a simple step, but an important one

These are important initiatives, long-overdue, and I’m sure will be welcomed by the music industry helping it to even louder and prouder achievements in the years ahead.

And they build on the announcements we’ve already made; supporting a resale royalty scheme for visual artists and the Australian Music Radio Airplay project, and reforming and building the capacity of the Australia Council.

Today’s launch is about expanding the vision.

From the grass roots of cultural communities to the Indigenous artists who shape so much of our image on the world stage.

From the creative industries, those innovative arts practices are increasingly driving an emerging economy, to our music industry, recognised so often for its talent, but less often for its economic potential and its capacity to nurture sustainable careers.

We recognise that what I’ve called 'the creative endeavour,' is really central to the life of this nation and our aim is to support and encourage that endeavour secure in the knowledge that the arts quite simply are good for the country we live in.