Make a submission to the Senate Inquiry
Senate Inquiry investigating the impact of the 2014 and 2015 Commonwealth Budget decisions on the Arts
Last week, ArtsPeak (the confederation of national peak arts organisations) was informed that its call for a Senate Inquiry into the last two federal arts budgets was successful. This was warmly welcomed across the arts sector.
Make a submission
Although the Inquiry cannot make any legislative changes, it is a means by which the arts sector and any other interested people can get their views heard and provide a full picture of what is at stake to politicians at all levels of government, the public and the media.
The Senate Inquiry can add fuel to the call for change to be made to the recent federal arts Budget decisions as has happened in other contentious cases.You are strongly encouraged to take action.
How to make a submission
To make a submission you should write to the Committee - see Address for submissions below.
Your submission can take any form: written, illustrated, audio, video etc. If you have already written a letter, it can form the basis of your submission.
You could address all of the Inquiry Terms of Reference or choose just one or two that you have some experience with – see Inquiry Terms of Reference list below.
Your submission could include:
- your credentials (as an independent artist or other arts professional, representative of an organisation, audience member, arts supporter, arts educator etc)
- comments you want to make about the Commonwealth Government’s budget decisions in 2014 and 2015 - for the facts go here
- the rationale for your views
- the potential impact of these budget decisions on the arts and/or your role in the arts
- your experience in/of the arts.
Click here to download a template for a letter submission
Submission Examples
You can read examples of the submissions already made here.
Submission deadline:
Submissions to this Senate Inquiry has now closed
The committee reporting date is 15 September 2015
Public Hearings
You can ask to speak at or attend the Senate Inquiry Committee public hearings.
Public hearings have been confirmed here.
Address for submissions
Committee Secretary
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee
by email:
legcon.sen@aph.gov.au
for hard copy:
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Committee contacts
Phone: +61 2 6277 3560
Fax: +61 2 6277 5794
Inquiry Terms of Reference
On the 16 June 2015 the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report
a. the impact of the 2014 and 2015 Commonwealth Budget decisions on the Arts;
and
b. the suitability and appropriateness of the establishment of a
National Programme for Excellence in the Arts, to be administered by the
Ministry for the Arts, with particular reference to:
i. the effect on funding arrangements for:
A. small to medium arts organisations,
B. individual artists,
C. young and emerging artists,
D. the Australia Council,
E. private sector funding of the arts, and
F. state and territory programs of support to the arts,
ii. protection of freedom of artistic expression and prevention of political
influence,
iii. access to a diversity of quality arts and cultural experiences,
iv. the funding criteria and implementation processes to be applied to the
program,
v. implications of any duplication of administration and resourcing, and
vii. any related matter.
Other actions
For further actions please visit NAVA's website or follow us on Facebook for the latest updates.
Image: National Day of Action 18 June 2015 Photo: Joan Cameron-Smith.
