Page 3779 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 19 September 2018
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community to learn music, connect with each other, grow in confidence and get involved.
While there will be great new programs, it is worth pointing out that none of these programs is the same as the music H course. From my point of view, not having huge music knowledge, it would be ideal if the ACT was able to offer both. High performing music students should not be left out in the cold. I agree with Ms Lee’s comments that there has not been any persuasive public justification for the change of priorities. In fact, there is possibly no justification, persuasive or otherwise. As I said, that is why my office has spent the last couple of days trying to unpack what is going on.
I am not a musician. I think it would be really inappropriate for me to say to the ANU School of Music that their curriculum choices, their program choices, are not the right program choices. The ANU is an independent institution, so it would also be futile for me or the Assembly to say this.
I understand that the ACT government and the ANU have agreed on the direction of programs that should be covered by the new funding agreement. I understand that there are competing priorities and necessarily limited funding and that this can make the decisions that were made difficult. I also know that in the last few years the ACT government has increased its direct support for the School of Music. An additional $1 million over four years has been provided to support the school to develop as a high quality music conservatorium. The Greens have been very supportive of this work and funding.
Music education is important. It is as important as astrophysics, maths, ordinary physics and all the H course subjects at the ANU that still receive funding. I have also been told that that the funding they receive from the education department does not cover the entire costs of the H courses. It covers the costs of their getting an ATAR score and being recognised by the board of studies, but it does not cover all the tuition courses.
It is my belief that both the ACT government and the ANU are committed to and respectful of music education and the performing arts. I acknowledge the ongoing commitment of the ACT government to funding for community outreach programs. But unlike other states, we do not have a performing arts school here in the ACT. This is an issue, but it is an issue largely due to the size of the ACT community. It is one of those things where critical mass is needed. It is not yet obvious that we have that critical mass.
While the music H course has filled a vital gap in music education, what we will have to do is wait and see whether the new programs still allow enough avenues for professional support and experience for our talented local school-age musicians.
I am sure that none of us would like to see these young musicians moving to other jurisdictions, particularly during their school years, just because they were unable to get adequate support in the ACT. Having said that, I would also suggest that, given the age and career trajectories, it is probably inevitable that many of them will, in fact,
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