Document Index Budget Related Paper "Promises Kept for a Stronger Australia"

AUSTRALIA'S CULTURAL IDENTITY

• Australia's Cultural Identity
  • The Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Portfolio
    • Further support for Inveresk Museum and Art Gallery
    • Continuation of Young and Emerging Artists Fund
    • Extend funding for Major Festivals Fund
    • Assist LOUDER Youth Festival
    • Maintenance of the funding base of the Cultural Development Programme
    • Extension of cultural touring programmes
    • Contemporary Music Development
    • Grant to John Saunders Foundation
  • The Finance and Administration Portfolio
    • Referendum on whether Australia becomes a Republic
  • The Industry, Science and Resources Portfolio
    • Contribute to construction of Maitland Federation Centre
    • Tamar River Festival
    • Inveresk Woodchopping Stadium
    • Strategy for tourism development, Burnie, Tasmania
    • Grant to Gum San Heritage Museum, Ararat, Victoria

The Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Portfolio

Further support for Inveresk Museum and Art Gallery

Explanation

The Government will support the next stage of the planned Inveresk redevelopment in Launceston, Tasmania, which will involve the establishment of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery within the site. This phase will see the redevelopment of more than 20 former railway buildings, the creation of working exhibits based on the State's industrial heritage, such as the old blacksmith's shop and the restoration/construction of a new art gallery.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment in A Stronger Tasmania.

Continuation of Young and Emerging Artists Fund

Explanation

The Government will provide for continuation of the Young and Emerging Artists Fund, with a stronger focus on youth.

The Government's commitment to the Young and Emerging Artists Fund provides greater public exposure for the work of new artists, assisting their career development.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment in Arts for Australia's Sake.

Further Information

In its first 18 months, the Emerging Artists Fund provided 61 grants to organisations and 208 grants to individuals.

Extend funding for Major Festivals Fund

Explanation

The Government will extend funding for the Major Festivals Fund, which was established in the 1996-97 Budget. The Fund provides support to Australia's major international festivals to enable them to develop and present large scale commissioned works.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment in Arts for Australia's Sake.

Further Information

As a result of the high profile exposure gained by arts productions through the Major Festivals Fund, several national and international tours have been negotiated, such as Cloudstreet to Melbourne, Sydney, Zurich, London and Dublin; the Stalker Theatre Company's Blood Vessel to Europe in 1998 and 1999; and the Australian Dance Theatre's Possessed to France and Germany.

On the basis of past performance, it is estimated that State and Territory Governments and other partners in programme delivery contribute at least one dollar for every dollar the Commonwealth invests in the Major Festivals Fund, thereby doubling the community impact.

Assist LOUDER Youth Festival

Explanation

The Government will make funding available to assist the LOUDER Youth Festival, which is planned for January 2001. LOUDER is the sequel to LOUD, Australia's first national media festival of youth culture and the arts which took place in January 1998. LOUD highlighted the creativity of Australians aged 12 to 25 using television, radio, print media, advertising and the Internet.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment in Arts for Australia's Sake.

Maintenance of the funding base of the Cultural Development Programme

Explanation

The Government will provide additional funding to the Cultural Development Programme. This additional money will help to maintain the funding base for the major national cultural organisations and training institutions and schemes funded through the Programme, such as Opera Australia and the National Institute of Dramatic Arts. It will also provide funding for the protection and return of Indigenous cultural property and the establishment of a National Cultural Heritage Fund.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment in Arts for Australia's Sake.

Extension of cultural touring programmes

Explanation

As part of its regional arts strategy, the Government will provide funding of $6 million over two years to increase access to, and targeted support for, cultural activities. This meets the Government's election commitment to increase high quality cultural activity in regional Australia by extending the impact of Playing Australia, Visions of Australia and Festivals of Australia.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment in Arts for Australia's Sake.

Further Information

Visions of Australia grants have dramatically improved the touring of exhibitions in Australia since 1994. The programme has offered some 300 grants for exhibition development and touring. Attendance at exhibitions has been almost 3 million since 1994.

Playing Australia grants have substantially increased the number of performances of the performing arts in regional Australia. During 1998-99, Playing Australia will assist

approximately 730 performances of Australia's best performing arts outside the capital cities.

Festivals of Australia has offered 311 grants to festivals in all states and territories, distributing the funds to regional and remote areas of Australia. Approximately 80 per cent of the grant funds have been distributed to festivals outside metropolitan Australia.

Contemporary Music Development

Explanation

The Government has provided additional funding of $8.6m over 3 years ($3.0m in 1999-00) to the Australia Council for research and development of new technology options, including online initiatives to support the profile and export of Australian contemporary music. $2.3m has been provided on a cash outlays basis in the 1998-99 Additional Estimates process.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment in Arts for Australia's Sake.

Grant to John Saunders Foundation

Note: The 1998-99 MYEFO provided estimates of the impact of measures on the underlying cash balance.

Explanation

The Government committed $1.0 million in 1998-99 on a cash outlays basis in the MYEFO.

The measure was reported in the MYEFO as follows:

"To ensure that the Sydney Jewish Museum has a secure future, the Government has provided a grant to the John Saunders Foundation."

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment.

The Finance and Administration Portfolio

Referendum on whether Australia becomes a Republic

Explanation

The Government will conduct a Referendum on issues relating to whether Australia should become a Republic. This funding will enable the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to conduct the Referendum towards the end of 1999, as announced by the Government. The measure will also enable the AEC to prepare and process separate ballot papers for each question at the Referendum, if there is more than one question to be put.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment.

Further Information

The Referendum will be conducted under the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984. Services provided to voters will be similar to those provided at the 1998 Federal Election. Information will be supplied to each elector by the Australian Electoral Commission detailing the purpose of the Referendum and stating the cases for and against the proposals.

Additional funding has been provided under the Attorney-General's portfolio for advertising campaigns promoting the arguments for and against the republic model. For further information see the related expense measure in Budget Paper 2 under the Attorney-General's portfolio titled Republic Referendum Advertising Campaigns.

The Industry, Science and Resources Portfolio

Contribute to construction of Maitland Federation Centre

Explanation

The Government will contribute $2 million in 1998-99 to the construction of a multi-purpose community and convention centre for the people of Maitland. The development

of the Centre will provide the Maitland region with a venue suitable for multi-sport, community and entertainment activities.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment.

Tamar River Festival

Explanation

The Government has committed $140,000 to assist with the running of the Tamar River Festival, which was held in October 1998. The payment was made in 1998-99.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment in A Stronger Tasmania and Tamar River Environs Project.

Inveresk Woodchopping Stadium

Explanation

The Government will provide $60,000 in 1998-99 for a new Inveresk Woodchopping Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania. The Stadium will contribute to an innovative and competitive regional tourism industry and be used for woodchopping competitions; other visitor events, and as exhibition space for information and historic displays. Consistent with the Government's broader agenda for strengthening regional Australia, the new stadium will help implement the Tourism Action Agenda -- the National Action Plan for Tourism. Completion is expected during 1999-2000.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment in A Stronger Tasmania.

Strategy for tourism development, Burnie, Tasmania

Explanation

In 1998-99 the Government will commit $50,000 to the development of a strategy to assist tourism in the Burnie region of Tasmania. The tourism strategy will identify tourism projects and actions which will contribute to a more innovative and competitive regional tourism industry, with the capacity to help overcome current challenges in the region including structural readjustment, the decline in the length of stay of visitors, and relatively low growth in international and domestic tourism. Consistent with the Government's broader agenda for strengthening regional Australia, the project will help implement the Tourism Action Agenda -- the National Action Plan for Tourism. Completion of the strategy is expected in 1999-2000.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment in A Stronger Tasmania.

Grant to Gum San Heritage Museum, Ararat, Victoria

Explanation

The Government will provide $0.2 million in 1998-99 to assist with the construction of the Gum San Heritage Museum, including information displays which will feature the history of the goldfields and the contribution made by the Chinese community, a restaurant and seminar facilities. Consistent with the Government's broader agenda for strengthening regional Australia, the development of the Museum will help implement the Tourism Action Agenda -- the National Action Plan for Tourism -- and will benefit the regional economy through increased tourism expenditure and employment.

This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment.