Page 2884 - Week 10 - Thursday, 7 October 2021
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MS CHEYNE: I cannot believe that the opposition is laughing about the arts—actually, no—I can.
Mrs Jones: On a point of order, Madam Speaker, is there a standing order that refers to being misrepresented by the minister when answering her question?
MADAM SPEAKER: No. The best way to deal with that is not to have any laughter and not to have any interjections while someone is on their feet. Ms Cheyne.
MS CHEYNE: Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is about everyone reaping the benefits of the ecosystem. It results in a more sustainable arts sector and it results in a growing arts sector. I will get to the specifics of Ms Clay’s question, but I would also encourage her to not take a narrow view of the funding but to recognise this ecosystem and that everything supports everything else.
We already have an enormous amount of funding that goes directly to artists in terms of our arts grants funding. We have a long and proud history of that—our arts activities funding, our ACT screen arts funding, our HOMEFRONT Program—but there are also indirect opportunities as well, such as through the ACT Events Fund or through the community events or the major events that we hold. (Time expired.)
MS CLAY: Minister, what policies and procedures will you put in place to ensure that artists are paid first and paid fairly at industry rates on any project that involves government funding, such as the expo?
MS CHEYNE: We are looking forward to engaging very strongly with the community on our arts policy our arts funding model and the arts expo. I note that we already pay artists fairly. And it is not just about paying artists; it is also about supporting our arts workers.
I note that Ms Clay referenced in her media release that the budget supports the creation of admin jobs instead of artists. I would like to reflect that admin jobs in the sector are still arts jobs and are no less worthy. Our arts organisation and our cultural facilities—and, indeed, the arts expo—are going to rely on those arts workers. But absolutely we will work very closely with the sector in ensuring that ACT artists are supported. This is about growing the ACT arts sector, and we will.
MS LAWDER: Madam Speaker—
MADAM SPEAKER: Ms Lawder. I have given the call to Ms Lawder and standing order 43 makes accommodation for this. I am not being difficult, for those who have difficulty rising quickly to their feet.
MS LAWDER: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Minister, what is the average price of a piece of public art, given that you have allocated $200,000 for a public art forum by women and/or non-binary individuals, or are you expecting women and non-binary individuals to produce their art for less than others?
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