Page 3750 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 9 December 1992
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MR WOOD: I note your point. I am delighted that the Government was able to accept this aspect of the Labor Party's policy commitment at the last election. I am delighted that we were able to go this far in difficult financial times. I believe that we can continue to support writing and the whole spectrum of the arts.
Mr Cornwell asked why we had to fund superannuation. It is very logical, in fact necessary, considering Federal Government requirements. Superannuation is provided for people working in all areas that receive grants - welfare, sport or whatever - for the administrators within the various groups.
Mr Cornwell: But you said "artists and administrators".
MR WOOD: Many of them are artists, and many of them are sportsmen. It is appropriate that they get their superannuation entitlements, as other people around the nation do. It was a very sensible decision of the Follett budget to give them extra. Indeed, we had little choice but to do it. We did not take the superannuation money out of their existing grants. We increased what we gave, so that the grants would not suffer. But you might not like that - I do not know.
Madam Speaker, within the tight budget constraints we also indexed grants to the arts and to other grants areas rather than hold them or cut them back, as in most other areas. That reflects our priority for the arts, welfare, sport, youth affairs and other matters. I am quite happy to take a different stance from that of the Opposition spokesperson for the arts. I am proud to be standing up here today supporting the arts, supporting the people who work in them, offering them my assurance of continuing support and every last cent that we can drag up for them.
I conclude by talking about the casino premium, because it is a reflection also of our priority for the arts. The ALP made a clear policy commitment that the casino premium would be used for cultural matters.
Mr Cornwell: The Chief Minister did not say that.
MR WOOD: You wait and see what comes out, Mr Cornwell. The ALP made a clear promise on this. It reflects our priority for the arts. It is obvious that you, as shadow spokesperson for the arts, would like to see that casino premium used somewhere else. You have not said where you would like to see it go, but at various times you have asked questions which lead me to believe that you do not really want to see that money expended in the area of the arts. If that is your view as the shadow spokesperson for the arts, so be it. But I am not going to accept the criticisms, explicit and implicit, in your speech about our level of support, our commitment, to the arts. It is high and will continue to be so.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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