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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-08-25 Daily Xml
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Matters of Interest

Public Libraries Funding

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (15:25): From new parents and their babies to kids and to seniors, we know that South Australians love their public libraries, but I think many people in our community would have been surprised to have found out this week that our public libraries are under threat because of this Marshall Liberal government. It is yet another public community service that has been short-changed, yet another sign that this government does not care about the communities they serve.

Time and time again we are seeing cuts to public services or services being put under threat by this government, from our public trams and trains to Service SA and now around 140 public libraries. I think many people who rely on their public library, as well as the wider community, would be genuinely surprised to find out that this government is not supporting libraries but is refusing to index a longstanding funding commitment to public libraries.

In doing so, they are breaking a decade-long public library funding commitment that was signed off by the former Labor government. I believe this was the longest standing state government funding commitment to public libraries in the nation, but that has come to an end under this government, when this government decided to short-change public libraries by $6 million over five years.

The LGA warned that they would not sign off on a deal that left public libraries unable to deliver the community services people rely on, be that access to computers and the internet or the popular toy library service. Really, it leaves little wonder as to why the LGA refused to sign off on a deal that would leave public libraries $6 million out of pocket over five years.

This cut to yet another public service has come from the top office of government. Library funding falls under the responsibility of the Premier—the Minister for the Arts. When questioned during estimates about the impact of not indexing funding to public libraries, the Premier seemed unaware of the significance of this funding cut, with comments such as, 'I do not know how you would even possibly get to that figure,' or, 'I do not know how you would arrive at that figure,' and, 'If that is what the Labor Party thinks the indexation rate should be, goodness gracious.'

Yes, Premier, goodness gracious. You are right: we are talking about a lot of money. It is a shame the Premier was unable to calculate the true cost of not indexing public library funding, that true cost being $6 million over five years. As Ben Footner, President of Public Libraries SA, stated on 891 this week, 'This is a death by a thousand cuts.'

There are many reasons why people rely on public libraries these days. In fact, SA libraries outperform the national average on the highest rate of physical visits per capita. Quite simply, we love our libraries in SA. The 9.7 million people visiting a public library every year in SA are not just popping in to borrow a book anymore. Our libraries offer valuable services that provide many supports in our communities, from access to computers, language services, internet access, children's entertainment, to writing resumes. They really are a community hub.

When we look at who is using public libraries, we really do get a picture of the economic benefits of libraries. An SA public library visitor survey found that people who are looking for work are some of the most frequent visitors to walk through the doors of a public library. Considering that under this government SA has regularly carried the unwanted title of the worst unemployment rate in the nation, it would be a reasonable question to ask why this government would now break a 10-year funding agreement with a public service that helps job seekers get back into the workforce.

Again, I want to borrow the words of Ben Footner, President of Public Libraries of South Australia, from an interview on 891 this week. He said:

The cost of doing business does not stop growing, and so it sees us in a situation where we have to have conversations about where we will absorb this cut.

He goes on to list the concerns as 'fewer books' and 'fewer services'.

People are getting a little bit tired of having to ask questions about this government: why do they continue to short-change us when it comes to local services, public services and community services? With around 140 public libraries across the state, every council will be impacted. Members can be sure that this cut will have a significant impact on every South Australian across the state.

Time expired.

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