The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.

AUSTRALIA COUNCIL REORGANISATION

The Federal Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, today welcomed the announcement of the Australia Council's reorganisation.

'I welcome the commitment by the Australia Council to reorganising the way it operates to focus its resources more effectively in responding to the challenges facing the sector', Senator Kemp said.

'Every organisation should regularly review how it meets its objectives to ensure more efficient and effective operation. This principle has underpinned the Australia Council's reorganisation, and the Government supports the Australia Council in undertaking this process.

'The Council's goals, in its reorganisation, of building a vital and more viable arts sector, and ensuring that all Australians are engaged with and enriched by the arts, are shared by the Government.

'I note that the Australia Council has emphasised that it will maintain its commitment to art'

The Australian Government is a strong supporter of the Australia Council, and has increased its funding and responsibilities. Funding for the Australia Council has increased from $72.9 million in 1995-96 to $137 million in 2004-05. This increase has been driven by the Nugent Inquiry and various Government initiatives, like the Young and Emerging Artists program.

This year the Australian Government renewed triennial funding to the Australia Council of $398 million, and has provided a total of $13 million for various Government initiatives. In the Coalition election policy, the Government committed to extending the Young and Emerging Artists program until 2007-08, providing $5 million over four years for 'noise', and providing $2 million per annum to continue the Books Alive program over the next four years.

CANBERRA
8 December 2004

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