Election 2010

As the dust starts to settle from the weekend’s election and the details slowly become apparent it looks like we are going to have a hung parliament in this country for the first time in 70 years.

As the dust starts to settle from the weekend’s election and the details slowly become apparent it looks like we are going to have a hung parliament in this country for the first time in 70 years.

While the exact numbers are still being worked out, including which party will actually be in power, what seems clear is the balance of power will lie with the independents and the Greens.

The latter having done better than anyone, with the possible exception of themselves, would’ve thought.

At this point its hard to pin down exactly what the arts policies of the independent’s are. Several of them are rural candidates and while I have managed to find quite a lot of information on banana farming from one of them, his run down on the arts was fairly slim.

What we do know is the Greens arts policy. So I thought I would take a little time to look into it. Assuming that it is all going to play out like expected. Of course this being politics anything could happen in the next few days. Each party will be wheeling and dealing that I am sure is going on in the back rooms trying to woo the independents in the hope of forming a minority government.

The good news is that the Greens arts policy has quite a lot in it for the performing arts. In fact they have even labelled it “The Greens Vibrant Future Performing Arts Policy,” and it includes:

• establishes a $5 million a year Arts Research and Development Fund to support new Australian work, risk-taking work and truly innovative social artistic ventures;
• increases the Playing Australia fund for touring Australia and establishes a new $10 million overseas touring fund;
• includes artistic engagement with recognised arts organisations for the purposes of meeting social security requirements; and
• commits to initiating roundtable discussions to reform the copyright regime.

Senator Christine Milne the deputy leader of the Greens has been quoted as saying ”The policy is aimed at encouraging innovation and ensuring as many Australians as possible get to share artistic experiences.”

Obviously the Greens will not be in power so will not be able to introduce their policy as if they were, but its quite possible that they will have a deciding vote on a lot of issues, so its nice to know the policy that will be informing their decisions is pro building the performing arts.

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