Communications, Information Technology and the Arts

Art Indemnity Australia — extension of funding

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts	-	-	-	-

The Government will provide additional funding of $6.1 million over four years to the Art Indemnity Australia programme, to purchase insurance coverage for art works loaned for major cultural exhibitions touring Australia. The Government manages the financial risk for the loss of, or damage to, these works through this programme.

As Art Indemnity Australia insurance premiums are paid to the Government’s general insurer, Comcover, which is within the Australian Government General Government Sector, these payments have no impact on the fiscal balance.

Athens 2004 Paralympic Games — contribution

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts	-	-	-	-

The Government will provide $600,000 in 2003-04 to the Australian Paralympic Committee to assist the Australian Paralympic Team to compete at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.

Australia Council

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Australia Council	-	-	-	-

The Government will provide triennial funding of $398 million to the Australia Council for the period 2004-05 to 2006-07. The Australia Council is the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body, and provides grants to Australian artists and arts organisations.

Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.

Australia Council — additional funding

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Australia Council	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0

The Government will provide additional funding of $10 million over five years (including $2 million in 2008-09) to the Australia Council to support small to medium arts organisations, assist in the expansion of international markets for Australian artists and for the production of high quality music recordings through support to the Melba Foundation.

Australian Broadcasting Authority and the Australian Communications Authority — merger

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Australian Broadcasting Authority	-	-	-	-
Australian Communications Authority	-	-	-	-

The Government will establish a new media and communications regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, which will be formed from the merger of the Australian Broadcasting Authority and the Australian Communications Authority.

The creation of the new body by 1 July 2005 reflects convergence of the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation — extension of Regional and Local Programming initiative

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Australian Broadcasting Corporation	-	17.7	18.1	18.6

The Government will provide funding of $54.4 million over three years from 2005-06 to continue the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) Regional and Local Programming initiative. This funding will enable the ABC to continue to provide additional regional and local programming across all media. It will also enable the ABC to continue to provide additional business, finance, children’s and educational content on its media platforms.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation — programme acquisition

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Australian Broadcasting Corporation	4.2	4.3	4.4	4.5

The Government will provide additional funding of $17.4 million to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation over four years from 2004-05 to assist in meeting the increasing costs of purchasing both domestic and international programming.

Australian Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame — further financial assistance

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts	-	-	-	-

The Government will provide an additional $1 million in 2003-04 to finalise the construction of the Australian Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. This grant is subject to certain conditions, including the provision of matching funding by the Western Australian Government.

Educational Lending Right — extension of funding

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts	11.0	11.0	11.0	11.0

The Government will provide funding of $44 million over four years to continue the Educational Lending Right Programme. Educational lending right payments are made to eligible Australian creators and publishers whose books are held in the lending libraries of educational institutions. Payments recognise income lost from forgone royalty payments as books are borrowed rather than purchased.

Mount Panorama motor racing circuit — contribution to upgrade

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts	-	-	-	-

The Government will provide $10 million in 2003-04 to the Bathurst City Council to assist the upgrade of facilities at the Mount Panorama motor racing circuit.

National Institute of Circus Arts — additional funding

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6

The Government will provide $6 million in 2003-04 to the National Institute of Circus Arts to enable it to expand its existing premises. The Government will also provide additional funding of $2.4 million over four years from 2004-05 to the Institute to enable it to continue to provide training in the circus and physical theatre arts.

This is in addition to ongoing funding of $1.4 million per annum.

Playing Australia — additional funding

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0

The Government will provide additional funding of $8 million over four years for the Playing Australia Programme. The programme supports touring programmes by performing arts organisations throughout Australia, including regional and remote areas.

Regional Arts Fund — extension of funding

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts	2.6	2.7	2.7	2.8

The Government will provide funding of $10.7 million over four years to continue the Regional Arts Fund. The Fund provides grants for local cultural and arts projects in regional and remote areas of Australia.

Surf Life Saving Australia — grant

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts	-	0.4	0.5	0.2

The Government will provide $1 million over three years from 2005-06 to Surf Life Saving Australia to support events and activities commemorating 100 years of surf lifesaving in Australia.

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