Senator the Hon. George Brandis S.C.

Minister for the Arts and Sport

Minister for the Arts Senator The Hon George Brandis today labelled Paul Keating’s comments on the arts at the Sydney Film School last night as out of touch and out of date.

“While he may be accurate when it comes to the failings of the Labor Party, when it comes to arts funding, he couldn’t be further off the mark,” Senator Brandis said.

“Mr Keating has failed, once again, to check the facts before opening his mouth in a brazen attempt to attract a headline.

“The Labor Party loves to claims it is the party of the arts but in fact, the reality is the opposite.

“Since the election of a Coalition Government funding for the arts has increased more than 65%, from just over $400 million when Labor was last in government to almost $700 million a year now. In the last budget alone, I announced $380 million in additional funding for the arts sector over the next four years, including a 60% increase in funding for small to medium arts companies, and a 34% increase for our major performing arts companies.

“Responsible management of Australia’s $1.1 trillion economy by Prime Minister John Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello has meant the Coalition Government can invest in the Australian arts sector in record proportions.

“The retirement of Federal Labor’s $96 billion debt, and the avoidance of $8.9 billion in interest payments each year has meant more funding for our touring groups, life performance, dance, film sector, and visual arts, among others.

“If Paul Keating wants to talk about cuts to arts funding he should look no further than the State Labor Governments. In his home state of New South Wales the Iemma Labor Government slashed arts funding its recent budget – cutting funding from the State Library of NSW, the Art Gallery of NSW, the Australian Museum and the Historic Houses Trust of NSW. In its last Budget, NSW Labor slashed the funding for the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences by over 11%.

“With Labor always look at what it does; don’t listen to what it says. I didn’t hear Paul Keating utter one word of opposition to those cuts to vital arts institutions in NSW, yet he’s happy to tell lies about the Howard Government’s record in the arts.”

Media contact: Travis Bell 0448 950 248

12 July 2007
70/07