Page 4658 - Week 15 - Thursday, 21 November 1991
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Cultural Council
DR KINLOCH: My question is to Mr Wood in his role as Minister for the Arts. He and I yesterday were at a most fascinating seminar on Canberra in the year 2000 and the question of cultural policy. The meeting was, I think, very fascinated but also agitated by his proposal to set up an ACT cultural council. In particular, they wondered how much time they have to approach him on this matter, when the council will be set up, and what its composition will be. Although there was a great welcome for the council, could he tell us the nature of that council and how soon it will be created?
MR WOOD: Yes, I am happy to respond to that. Dr Kinloch will know the genesis of this. It arose out of the report of the Select Committee on Cultural Activities and Facilities and was, of course, prompted from many other sources too. How much time do people have to make suggestions? Well, I would have to say "Not much".
At the last arts consultation I held - I have followed on from Mr Humphries' example - I made mention of the fact that we were likely to go down this path and anybody interested should provide me with names. I made the same invitation last night to that group where Dr Kinloch was, and I will make it here again. If you know of people who would be competent to serve on that body, please advise me; but do so quickly, because the cultural council will be set up very soon. I do not have a particular timetable on it. I am working on the lists of names that have been drawn up, rather informally at this stage, Dr Kinloch; but I will certainly consider all names that come to me.
Members would be aware that there is a variety of approaches, I suppose, to filling the bodies we have around advising government. On this occasion I did not go out and advertise because I am quite emphatic, and the arts community is supportive of this, that the members on the cultural council should not be delegates or representatives of particular bodies. They should have a broad rather than a specific interest, though obviously they will have connections into various arts-related activities. That is the question, Dr Kinloch. If you want to give me any names, I would be quite happy to consider them. Perhaps at the same time you could provide a brief CV for me.
Under-Age Drinking
MR STEFANIAK: My question is to the Minister for Health. Yesterday the Minister for Health announced a number of so-called initiatives in relation to under-age drinking. One of them was to conduct a campaign, utilising Health Promotion Fund moneys, in an attempt to counter under-age drinking and promote a healthy message. What percentage of the Health Promotion Fund in this financial year is he proposing to utilise for that campaign?
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