Arts Sector

Ms STINSON (Badcoe) (15:28): I rise to put the spotlight on the quite sudden and shocking defunding of the arts sector here in South Australia. In the September budget, the Liberal's first budget in 16 years, we saw a total of $31.9 million ripped out of a sector that is vital to our economy, our state identity and our wellbeing as individuals. These brash, unexplained and haphazard cuts were thrust upon the sector without warning. I cannot recall the part of the Liberal Party election slogan that talked about cuts to arts. But, just like so many other valuable sectors—Housing SA, Service SA, those 800 jobs to go in Health, child protection, public transport—the arts is no different: it is being slashed and slashed with no rhyme or reason, and to what end?

The latest Australia Council for the Arts report demonstrated the value of the arts to tourism, in particular, to our regional areas here in SA. Hashtag #RegionsMatter, but not when it comes to the arts. Surely support for our arts is support for our regions and our economy as a whole. And it is not just me. It is not just this side of the house calling it out: it is the arts sector itself.

On Saturday night, at the state's premier arts awards, the Ruby Awards, speaker after speaker subtly mentioned, then talked of, then railed against the cuts to the arts sector dealt out by the Treasurer and the man who is meant to advocate for the arts: the Premier. The presenters of awards and the winners of those awards alike called out the massive funding cuts—$31.9 million—and the dismantling of Arts SA itself. They spoke of how difficult the last few months have been, how tough it continues to be and how much tougher it is about to get.

There was a team spirit in the room about making the best of a bad lot, but certainly no thanks to the man who dished that lot out. Artists also paid tribute to the abruptly axed former executive director of Arts SA, Peter Louca. To quite rapturous applause from all the artists in the Queens Theatre, Mr Louca was praised for his passion, leadership and huge contribution, and his untimely departure was lamented. His role has still not been filled permanently.

Artists like Emma Webb, who runs Vitalstatistix theatre company, gave a stirring address about the importance of the arts to small and medium groups and about the importance of individual artists themselves. She made the point that the biggest funder of the arts in this state is artists. They are the ones who sacrifice and who chip in their own cash to realise an artistic vision that is then shared with our state. She spoke of the need for the government's support and appealed to the man sitting just a few feet in front of her to listen.

Jane Doyle, 7 News presenter and chair of Carclew, was not backwards in coming forwards about the importance of the arts either. In a rousing speech, she talked about the value of art to our lives and the need for it to be respected and supported. I was not sitting in the front row and I was not on the table with the Premier, but the chatter around the room was that it got pretty awkward—pretty awkward—more and more awkward as each award-winning performer took to the stage and spoke out against the decision of a man sitting right in front of them.

The Premier is very happy to celebrate the contribution of the arts, as am I and as is everyone in this parliament, but you cannot heap praise with one hand while raking back the cash with the other. The impact is not just in the city. I have been lucky enough to soak up a lot of art in our regions over recent weeks. I was fortunate to visit the Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery, which does a lot with little, and then to see the State Theatre Company's world premiere of The Gods of Strangers at the Northern Festival Centre—and an outstanding performance it was.

That theatre is one of three regional theatres to benefit from a million dollars in this budget. That is welcome money, but it is not to upgrade or improve the experience at all, or to attract more shows; it is simply to stop the theatre burning down or being shut down due to fire protection rules. That is not an investment in arts: it is routine maintenance.

I was also fortunate, as part of this side's commitment to country cabinet, to visit artists in the Riverland; among them were the Chaffey Theatre and the amazing Riverland Youth Theatre. It is easy to see when you meet these groups how every dollar is put to work, and that is before these cuts. On this side, we urge the Premier to listen to these groups and to understand the full impact of his cruel cuts.