Ministerial Statement

Arts Funding

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Health Industries) (14:00): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: In the 2015 federal budget, the arts community was shocked by the announcement that over $100 million would be redirected from the Australia Council for the Arts to create a new discretionary fund for the then minister for the arts, Senator George Brandis. Minister Brandis wanted to create a National Program of Excellence in the Arts (NPEA) which favoured major organisations and traditional art forms over new, innovative and experimental art.

I wrote to minister Brandis soon after the announcement to express my concerns about the insecurity these cuts created for many of our local arts organisations who rely on a mixture of state government and Australia Council funding to survive. I also spoke about these cuts on many occasions in this place and had my concerns dismissed as 'rubbish' by the Leader of the Opposition.

After the federal cabinet reshuffle, I was able to meet with the new minister, Senator Mitch Fifield, and again reiterate my concerns. Minister Fifield, to his credit, returned $8 million to the Australia Council and broadened the scope of the renamed Catalyst fund. Unfortunately, this was not enough, and last week six South Australia-based companies were informed they were unsuccessful in their Australia Council four-year funding applications.

Those companies are Slingsby and Brink, both renowned for their theatre for young people; the Australian Experimental Art Foundation and the Contemporary Art Centre for South Australia, who contribute in our visual art space; Vitalstatistix, a contemporary and experimental theatre based in Port Adelaide; and Tutti Arts, which specialises in supporting artists with disabilities. On top of these, many other organisations also received less funding than they had in previous years.

On Friday, I announced that in response—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I notice the Leader of the Opposition thought all of this was rubbish. When I raised these issues, the Leader of the Opposition called them, and I quote, 'rubbish'. The Leader of the Opposition is in absolute denial about these cuts and the severity of these cuts. He is quite happy to front up to arts events and arts organisations but, when it comes to defending arts organisations in South Australia, he simply does not care.

On Friday, I announced that in response to these cuts the state government, through Arts South Australia, will suspend the need for an investment or funding partner in 2017 for local arts organisations, in current multiyear funding terms, affected by the Australia Council's four-year funding outcomes and extended the closing date for this funding round to 26 August 2016. We are also redirecting existing arts funding to the Arts Organisation Program to increase opportunities for these organisations to access state funding.

The arts community in South Australia relies on a strong independent small and medium sector to feed into our major companies, and everyone across the industry will be affected by these changes. Last week, the State Opera presented the world premiere of Cloudstreet, and last night State Theatre presented the world premiere of Andrew Bovell's latest work, Things I Know To Be True. Both of these works—

Mr Gardner interjecting:

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Well, indeed, State Theatre Company did receive funding and we certainly acknowledge that but, as Rob Brookman pointed out last night, he was not happy that this had been to the enormous expense and detriment of small to medium companies and pointed out that many of the actors who appeared last night in Things I Know To Be True had started their careers in the small to medium arts sector—a sector that the Leader of the Opposition clearly does not give two hoots about. Both of these works are being—

Mr PISONI: Point of order, sir: improper motives being imputed on members.

The SPEAKER: I do not think the minister is imputing improper motives; he is being quite straightforwardly insulting, and the response to that is either to grin and bear it or to withdraw leave. Minister.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Both of these works are of exceptional quality, and it is worth noting that many of the artists, as I said—writers, producers and directors—got their start in our small to medium sector. Their success relies on the health of the same group that last week was devastated by these cuts. I have met with the Adelaide Festival Centre and will be meeting with other major organisations, including the Art Gallery, to discuss how they can support the small and medium sector during this time.

I welcome federal Labor and the federal Greens policy positions to restore unspent Catalyst funding to the Australia Council if elected. In the meantime, the state government will continue to work with all our incredible arts organisations, providing support to them during this time of upheaval.

The SPEAKER: The less combative Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion.