ACT GOVERNMENT SUBMISSION

TO THE INQUIRY INTO CANBERRA’S NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS CONDUCTED BY THE JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE NATIONAL CAPITAL AND EXTERNAL TERRITORIES PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA

ACT GOVERNMENT MAY 2018

May 2018

CONTENT

INTRODUCTION ...... 1

RESPONSE TO THE INQUIRY’S TERMS OF REFERENCE ...... 1 1. CREATING A STRONG BRAND AND ONLINE PRESENCE ...... 1 2. EXPERIMENTING WITH NEW FORMS OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION ...... 5 3. CONDUCTING OUTREACH OUTSIDE CANBERRA ...... 5 4. CULTIVATING PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT...... 6 5. DEVELOPING OTHER INCOME STREAMS ...... 7 6. ENSURING THE APPROPRIATENESS OF GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES ...... 7 7. OTHER MATTERS ...... 10

CONCLUSION ...... 11

REFERENCES ...... 12

May 2018

INTRODUCTION

The national institutions based in Canberra are a cultural hub generating a wealth of knowledge and experiences for all Australians. Located mostly in the heart of Australia’s capital city, our national institutions engage widely across Australian society, with institutions dedicated to the arts, science, environment, sport, democracy and more. These institutions are a representation of our communities’ identity, giving expression to Australian values and ingenuity. It is crucial that our national institutions receive adequate support from the Australian Government to continue to fulfil this role.

The ACT Government recognises the importance of all the national institutions, however this submission focusses primarily on Canberra’s national cultural institutions. RESPONSE TO THE INQUIRY’S TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. CREATING A STRONG BRAND AND ONLINE PRESENCE

National pride in our institutions – the value of history and storytelling

Canberra’s national institutions collectively tell the Australian story. Inside the galleries, museums, archives and library collections are the treasures of a nation. Open to the Australian public to embrace, the collections provide a valuable interpretation of what it means to be Australian: from its culturally rich and ancient past, through its colonial history, and into the present modern, multicultural society of today.

Many of these institutions play a significant role in preserving Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artefacts, art and stories. For example the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander bark art is housed at the National Museum of Australia, while the National Gallery of Australia has the world’s largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art collection in the world, comprising of 7,500 pieces. The National Film and Sound Archive preserves and restores film and sound recordings of the works of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, while the National Library of Australia holds significant records including the historic papers of Edward Koiki Mabo.

National cultural institutions form an integral part of the Canberra visitor experience, with a record 2.75 million domestic overnight visitors and 243,000 international visitors to Canberra in 2017. The cultural significance of these institutions is highlighted through historic, educational, scientific, artistic, sporting, environmental and social interpretation. It is a core part of defining a growing multicultural nation for the people of Australia and for international visitors wanting to understand more about the Australian culture and way of life.

In 2017, further reinforcing the educational and cultural significance of Canberra’s national institutions, more than 160,000 school age children from all over Australia travelled to Canberra to discover and learn about civics, citizenship, democracy, history, science and art.

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Schools are supported by the Australian Government though the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate (PACER), which provides variable financial assistance for Australian students in Year 4-12 to travel to Canberra. Students are required to visit Parliament House, Old Parliament House and the Australian War Memorial, with the opportunity to explore other cultural and historical institutions in the ACT. This program provides a valuable opportunity for Australian children, regardless of their birthplace, to understand more about their country and what makes being an Australian so unique.

As a collective brand, the national cultural institutions located in Canberra have the capacity to leave a lasting impression in the minds of all those who visit. Prior to the 1980s Australia’s national arts scene was concentrated in Melbourne and Sydney. However, since establishment of the National Gallery of Australia in 1982, the National Museum of Australia in 1991 and the National Portrait Gallery in 1998, Canberra has emerged as one Australia’s key centres of culture. On historically important days where pride and patriotism is elevated – such as Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and Australia Day – the spotlight naturally falls on Canberra and its national institutions to understand and commemorate decisions that have defined our nation.

In addition to the intrinsic benefits of the arts – such as provoking thought and discussion, providing pleasure and recreation, and framing individual and community identity – the arts and cultural sector also contributes to the Australian and ACT economy in a range of direct and indirect ways:

• attendance at cultural venues and events, and participation in selected cultural activities are among the key indicators used by the ABS uses to measure wellbeing and societal progress; • the significant role of art in the economic competitiveness of a city through its ability to create an interesting and vibrant lifestyle, which in turn is an important factor in attracting and retaining talented interstate and overseas migrants; and • widely sought after Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills are increasingly becoming STEAM skills, inclusive of the Arts. The economy more broadly is increasingly seeking employees with Arts skills; with creativity and critical thinking an important balance to more rigid mathematical skillsets.

Importance for Tourism

Canberra’s national institutions are a key element in attracting both international visitors to Australia and domestic and international travellers to the ACT. They are vital to realising the capital’s potential as a showcase of Australian history, identity, culture, and innovation. As such, they are an important contributor to the ACT economy, helping to raise and redefine Canberra’s reputation across Australia and overseas as the centre of Australian political, social and cultural influence.

Many of Australia’s established international tourism markets have matured, meaning that a large proportion of possible tourists have already done one trip to Australia. They have been to the harbour bridge, explored an exotic location and cuddled a koala. To continue to attract inbound tourism from these established markets Australia needs to diversify its offering, and the national institutions play a key role in this process.

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The number of visitors to the national institutions is increasing, with many institutions recording over a million visitors a year. In 2016, the Australian War Memorial recorded more than 1.232 million visitors 1, to the Campbell headquarters, storage facility in Mitchell and its touring exhibitions – a 7.9 per cent increase compared to the previous financial year. 2 Similarly, the National Museum of Australia experienced 1.747 million visitors to both standard and travelling exhibitions in the 2016-17 financial year. 3

The ACT Government is committed to supporting the national institutions to attract visitors and diversify the economy, with exhibitions and events forming a key part of the VisitCanberra and Events ACT tourism platforms. 4 A key target of the ACT Government’s Tourism 2020 Strategy is growing the value of overnight visitation in the ACT to $2.5 billion by 2020, a goal which aligns with the national framework of doubling overnight visitor expenditure in Australia from $70 billion to $140 billion.

Similarly, national institutions are a critical part of the ACT Government’s 2025 Major Event Strategy, which outlines the ACT Government’s vision to have Canberra recognised as a world- class events destination and one whose events reflect the city’s essence and personality .

Since the Major Event Fund (MEF) opened in 2011:

• $7.1 million in ACT Government funding has been invested to support events being held in Canberra, with 21 completed exhibitions and events, attracting over 2.956 million attendees. Exhibitions at the National Gallery of Australia, National Library of Australia and National Museum of Australia have been major contributors to this success. • $3.5 million in ACT Government funding has been invested to support bringing major exhibitions to the NGA, generating $334.6 million in economic return to the ACT. Achieving both local and national tourism targets relies on a coordinated approach from all parts of the industry, including appropriately resourced Australian Government funded attractions and institutions.

With Australia’s capital city now connected to a global market place, supporting 14 direct international flights per week, national institutions provide an increasingly important first point of engagement for international visitors. The diverse stories held within the institutions has the ability to influence visitor perceptions and understanding of the nation and enrich their experience as they travel to other parts of Australia. For example, the journey into past Australia through the institutions includes interpretation of ancient and contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art at the National Gallery of Australia, the red centre garden at the Australian National Botanic Gardens or discovering the lives of famous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders at the National Library of Australia.

Telling these stories across the diversity of themes that define our nation in engaging, innovative and creative ways requires new investment, opportunities to harness new revenue streams, and a long-term Australian Government commitment to resourcing.

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City Renewal and the National Institutions

Creating vibrant places which attract knowledge workers and entrepreneurs and support a thriving economy begins with arts and culture. The ACT International Engagement Strategy outlines the 2050 vision for Canberra to be recognised as one of the world’s great innovation, creative and art cities while remaining the world’s most liveable city. 5 Integration of artistic programs and promotion into our business and academic activities—Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM)—will underpin Australia’s capacity to attract and retain talented people with a compelling economic and cultural proposition.

The establishment of daily international flights at Canberra Airport is creating a wealth of new opportunities to share Australia’s vibrant culture and history with the world. The ACT Government strongly supports the creation of a ‘Smithsonian’ cultural precinct in the Parliamentary Triangle and surrounding area, and is driving urban renewal projects, including light rail and city-to-lake connectedness, which will play a key role to promote and support Canberra’s national institutions.

The Acton Peninsula Draft Structure Plan (APDSP) provides a clear strategic vision for how the national institutions can support city renewal. The APDSP was produced in collaboration with the National Museum of Australia, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Australian National University and the ACT Government. The APDSP intends to:

• deliver world-class core functions of education and museum facilities that exceed the expectations of a domestic and international population of visitors and employees; and • reaffirm Acton Peninsula as one of Canberra’s premier gathering places by creating an exciting, connected, active and vibrant precinct that focuses visitors, educators and researchers on Australia’s culture and intellectual capital. 6 The ACT Government continues to support city renewal initiatives, in collaboration with the National Capital Authority (NCA), which create a seamless experience for Canberra’s residents and visitors and uphold the national institutions as Australia’s iconic arts and cultural precinct.

Light Rail

The ACT Government proposes to deliver the second stage of its light rail network in the City to Woden corridor. The ACT Government’s preferred alignment would see light rail connect to the first stage of light rail in the City, travel on the western side of London Circuit and across the Lake at Commonwealth Avenue before traversing Parkes and Barton along King George Terrace and Windsor Walk. This alignment will benefit a number of national institutions which will be in walking distance of the light rail system, including the Museum of Australia Democracy, the National Portrait Gallery, Questacon, the National Library of Australia, the National Gallery of Australia and Parliament House.

The Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories recently announced an Inquiry into Commonwealth and Parliamentary approvals for the proposed Stage 2 of the Australian Capital Territory light rail project , and the ACT Government proposes to make a submission to that inquiry in due course. In relation to the present inquiry, however, the ACT Government notes that its development of a light rail network will in time benefit the connectivity of those national institutions with the City, hotel corridors, other town centres, Canberra airport, the broader public transport network and other points of interest.

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2. EXPERIMENTING WITH NEW FORMS OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

National cultural institutions are important in terms of their ongoing relationships with local arts organisations and artists in Canberra, including those funded by the ACT Government. This has crucial economic, cultural and social benefits to artists, arts organisations and the national institutions themselves. Benefits of these partnerships to the institutions can include better opportunities for innovative public programming, while local arts organisations and artists can also benefit from increased exposure to a broader audience, diversified sources of income, and access to high quality collections and highly knowledgeable curatorial staff.

The cultural institutions support a broad range of artists and art forms in their programming, including visual arts workshops, concerts and dance programs. For example, the ACT Government-funded arts organisation, Megalo Print Studio + Gallery, recently collaborated with the National Gallery of Australia during the David Hockney: Prints exhibition to run an intensive printmaking workshop referencing works and techniques in the exhibition.

Recently, the National Portrait Gallery hosted Ausdance launch events for Dance Week, on International Dance Day including the global “Big Dance” and featuring local but nationally and internationally acclaimed performers including Liz Lea, Canberra Dance Theatre, Australian Dance Party, and QL2 Dance Inc. The role of the national cultural institutions in collaborating with local artists and arts organisations is mutually beneficial: local artists receive a profile boost while the national institutions can explore interesting programming outside their usual collection scope (i.e. a visual arts institution hosting dance performances). Another example is the role of the National Library in the National Folk Festival, hosting concerts and a significant research fellowship. Suitably supported, there are significant opportunities for similar local engagements to be replicated by national cultural institutions touring programs in other local communities across Australia.

Not only do collaborations like this have intrinsic artistic value, they allow the national institutions to contribute significantly to community health and wellbeing. The National Portrait Gallery is a key example, working with Dementia Australia ACT to deliver the world-leading “Dementia and the Arts” program.

3. CONDUCTING OUTREACH OUTSIDE CANBERRA

Accessibility of services

Cuts to staffing and funding at Australian Government funded attractions and institutions will impact on their ability to deliver programs and contribute to activities aimed at driving visitation and growing the visitor economy. The outreach services and travelling exhibitions of Canberra’s national institutions provide valuable educational and cultural connections for people outside the ACT.

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Importantly, through digital and online technologies, there are now significant opportunities for the collection of every national institution based in Canberra to be shared with all Australians and across the world. While some institutions are developing a growing capability in this space, there would be great benefits if national institutions were specifically supported to not only digitise their complete collections, but also engage online curators to ensure the online experience for those not able to visit the physical facility is just a special and immersive. For example, the National Museum of Australia conducts virtual tours via two telepresence robots, including the ability for users to control their view, interact with their tour guide and to access additional digital-only content. 7 This initiative is a partnership between the National Museum, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s Academic and Research Network, and the Commonwealth Department of Communications.

Reductions in operational budgets generally result in a paring back of such outreach activities to refocus on the provision of ‘core’ services – a situation particularly relevant for national institutions facing increased financial pressures.

These issues are elaborated on in the submission by the ACT Cultural Facilities Corporation, which is an independent statutory enterprise of the ACT Government which manages the ACT collecting and historic institutions: the Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG) including the Nolan Collection Gallery at CMAG, the Canberra Theatre Centre, and the ACT Historic Places. 4. CULTIVATING PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT

The need for capital investment and growth in recurrent funding for our national institutions

Canberra’s national institutions have a clear need for capital investment and recurrent funding growth. However, the ACT Government does not support the national institutions being required to acquire greater levels of private funding to support their core operations.

This funding model, often adopted overseas, requires a strong culture of philanthropy to provide an effective base of support. Such a culture of philanthropy does not yet exist in Australia to the extent that would appropriately replace Australian Government support. Even the Smithsonian institutions, often noted in the media for receiving large philanthropic donations, still receive two-thirds of annual operational and infrastructure funding through federal government appropriations. 8

Other ACT Government Support

Through its Major Event Fund the ACT Government has invested $7.1 million in exhibitions held at national institutions since 2011. The ACT Government also invests in events dedicated to raising the profile of national institutions and providing ways for Australians to engage with their collections. This includes the Enlighten Festival, an event curated by the ACT Government to enhance and promote the national institution brand. As well as being strongly synonymous with the Canberra brand, through its physical connection to the national institutions Enlighten also promotes deeper engagement with the cultural precinct, as it is literally seen in a new light, and with the institutions offering a huge range of tied-in events.

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In addition to tourism and infrastructure development initiatives, the ACT Government provides a host of other services to support Canberra’s national institutions. For example, the Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) Directorate provides and maintains core infrastructure such as roads, bridges, footpaths, cycleways and directional signage leading into the Parliamentary Triangle, ensuring they remain functional and safe for residents and visitors.

TCCS works collaboratively with the NCA to control pest plants and animals on land adjoining the Parliamentary Triangle. The ACT Government also ensures that Canberra’s entrance corridors, including the Canberra’s International Airport roads and public realm are maintained at a higher standard in order to enhance visitor experience. Working in association with the NCA, the ACT Government also provides a range of essential municipal services to the national institutions. 5. DEVELOPING OTHER INCOME STREAMS

Other income sources

There are substantial fixed costs associated with maintaining collections worth billions of dollars. Continuous improvement and innovation requires new investment. Reinvesting revenue generated from activity directly linked to activities of national institutions is a mechanism that can provide critical new funding needed to support ongoing improvement and sustain the value of the collective brand of the institutions. This includes the capacity to enhance digital capability and online presence, and experiment with and introduce innovative forms of public engagement and audience participation.

Paid parking was introduced for National Land managed by the National Capital Authority on 1 October 2014, aiming to prioritise spaces for visitors to the national institutions and assist with ongoing parking management in the Parliamentary Triangle and surrounding area. The National Capital Authority estimated the administered revenue for ticket sales and infringements for pay parking on national land at $98.2 million for the financial years 2015-16 to 2017-18. 9 Canberra’s national institutions do not receive any of the revenue collected for pay parking, despite the activities that they deliver contributing a significant proportion of the revenue generated. There exists an opportunity for the Australian Government to reallocate this revenue stream to support the funding and operations of Canberra’s national institutions.

A culture of reinvesting revenue generated through activities directly associated with national institutions is also a positive signal to investors, sponsors and philanthropic donors. Cultivating private sector support is integral to the operation of all institutions, and investors want to align their investment where they perceive their contribution is valued and supported. 6. ENSURING THE APPROPRIATENESS OF GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES

Transitioning Questacon to a Statutory Authority

Questacon’s position as part of the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science rather than an independent statutory authority has created a legacy of issues in relation to governance and capacity to develop other income streams.

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The 2008 Simpson Review made a strong recommendation to transition Questacon to a statutory authority. 10 The ACT Government strongly supports the implementation of this recommendation. The ACT Government encourages the committee to recommend that this be undertaken as a matter of priority to ensure opportunities for philanthropic contributions to Questacon are not missed.

Impact of the Commonwealth Efficiency Dividend

The annual impact of the Australian Government’s efficiency dividend contributes to an increasingly challenging operational environment for Canberra’s national institutions. The Council of Australian Museum Directors, representing leaders of major cultural institutions including the Australian Museum, Australian War Memorial, Questacon and National Museum of Australia, has previously described the use of efficiency dividends as a ‘blunt instrument’ that does not reflect the operating environment of cultural institutions compared to other government agencies such as health, education or transport. 11

In 2008, the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit conducted an inquiry into the Effects of the Efficiency Dividend on Smaller Public Sector Agencies. The resulting report found general support for the intention of the efficiency dividend to create productivity gains. 12 However, many of the agencies that reported financial hardship noted similar circumstances, including:

• limited opportunity to put forward new budget cases for additional funding due to static policy roles; • less scope to reprioritise activities to due to precisely defined technical functions or statutory requirements mandating services; • any decrease in long-standing activity to be considered a drop in core functions by key stakeholders; and • the obligation to absorb the costs of new functions within their existing budget.

While this report did not specifically focus on cultural agencies, this is the situation currently facing many of Canberra’s national institutions. For example, as a statutory authority, the National Film and Sound Archive is limited in the scope of service cuts without the risk of being unable to fulfil its legislative responsibilities.

Additionally, cultural institutions generally hold large numbers of valuable assets – and are often mandated to expand these collections – which creates a high proportion of relatively fixed costs relating to item preservation, maintenance and storage. With the increased availability of technology and changing cultural expectations has created the expectation that institutions will increasingly digitise collections. However, such functions are generally implemented within funding for existing operations and are likely to be reduced in times of financial pressure.

To paraphrase Australian cultural economist, Professor David Throsby, cultural context distinguishes cultural policy from other areas of government, creating a need to consider both economic and cultural value when evaluating policy.13 This concept should be applied to the Australian Government’s efficiency dividend policy when impacts to cultural agencies are considered.

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Impacts to future resilience

Both efficiency and effectiveness are required for the national institutions to perform at a high standard, which can be compromised when funding cuts, such as the efficiency dividend, are applied to cultural institutions without discretion to their respective operational capabilities and financial limitations. Museums Australia, the national association representing museums and galleries, notes that issues caused by ongoing funding limitations include the loss of expertise, compromised long-term strategic planning, reduced options for creativity and innovation, and risks to organisational sustainability. 14 It was noted in Australian Government Senate Estimates on 15 March 2016 that the six flagship institutions in Canberra – the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum, the Museum of Australian Democracy, the National Film and Sound Archive and the National Library – have been forced to repeatedly absorb massive budget cuts, with more than $3 million in the 2015-16 financial year.15 It is expected that approximately $20 million in cuts between 2015 and 2019 will be absorbed by these institutions alone. This represents a funding decision process which is unsustainable and will result in long-term loss of organisational capability across the national institutions. Funding pressures often also result in institutions shifting responsibilities between themselves and competing for resources out of necessity - for example, other agencies using the National Archives to meet information requirements. As all agencies are funded by the Australian Government, this is a zero-sum situation where individual institutions may experience a change in circumstance yet the overall funding envelope remains unaffected.

Additionally, Canberra’s profile has changed significantly since the Australian Government’s 2008 review. Recently named Lonely Planet’s third best city in the world to visit in 2018 and with international flights available seven days a week, Canberra is moving from strength to strength. 16 The launch of the CBR Region and whole-of-city CBR brands and ongoing international and sister-city engagement is encouraging new cultural exchanges, and the ACT’s visitor numbers are expected to continue to grow. As a result, Canberra’s national institutions require the necessary Australian Government support and funding to keep up with visitor demand and to take best advantage of this expanding market opportunity.

Impacts of APS employment

Canberra’s national institutions are important contributors to the ACT economy, via their direct employment and expenditure as well as through the visitors they attract to the ACT. The commitment by the Australian Government to reduce the size of the public service has and will continue to reduce spending in the ACT and impact the wider economy by influencing business hiring and investment decisions in the private sector.

The ACT Government has repeatedly stated that as home to the Australian Public Service the ACT is being asked to shoulder more than its fair share of the impacts from the federal budget. For seven of the Canberra-based national institutions, the number of staff located in the ACT fell from 1,993 staff in 2012-13 to 1,721 staff in 2016-17, a fall of 272 employees or 13.6 per cent. 17 It is disappointing that the continuing decline of Australian Public Service employment in the ACT is simultaneously resulting in negative effects on organisational flexibility and capability for many of Canberra’s national institutions.

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7. OTHER MATTERS

Future national institutions

There is an opportunity to promote the entire Parliamentary Triangle as a national institution, similar to the way that the National Mall in Washington has a stature of its own. The ACT Government is highly supportive of this approach and welcomes the opportunity to work closely with the Australian Government to continue to promote and support Canberra’s national institutions both now and into the future. In particular, the ACT Government recognises that there are immediate challenges with the National Film and Sound Archive seeking a more appropriate permanent facility and the imminent re-homing of the National Archives from its recently sold location in East Block.

With a number of national cultural/collecting institutions that are noticeably absent in Australia, there is also a clear opportunity for expansion of the Parliamentary Triangle’s cultural offerings. Given Australia’s unique flora and fauna, an Australian Natural History Museum is an identified gap in protecting and telling the Australian story. The British Natural History Museum and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History are good models for the potential development of a similar institution in Canberra, with content for such a museum already largely existing in the collections held by the CSIRO.

Celebrating and promoting a better understanding of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history could be achieved through the establishment of a distinct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Museum and Gallery. Large collections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artefacts are already held across various institutions which are not readily on display.

Additionally, as the continent most effected and shaped by bushfires in the world, fire has had, and continues to have such a profound effect on Australian landscape, fauna and psyche. It would be appropriate for a Bushfire Museum of Australia (BMA) and a National Bushfire Memorial to be built in the nation’s capital. The BMA would tell the story of Australia’s past as well as educate all Australians and visitors of the ongoing danger that bushfire poses in Australia. In the grounds of the BMA a national memorial could be established to be a constant reminder of loss and damage caused by bushfires in Australia and the need to be prepared every fire season.

There is also an opportunity to develop an all-encompassing national Australian Sports Museum, ideally located in proximity to the Australian Institute of Sport. This museum could complement the Melbourne Cricket Ground’s National Sports Museum, which has a strong focus on cricket, the Olympics, Australian football and thoroughbred horse racing. 18

There have previously been community debates about the most appropriate way to represent the history of multicultural Australia, part of which is included in Adelaide’s Migration Museum and Melbourne’s Immigration Museum, but the full picture of the impact which many cultures have had on Australia society is not completely captured in any current national institution.

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Another significant story to tell is that of Australia’s LGBTIQ community. A national LGBTIQ Museum and Gallery, appropriately located in Canberra, would provide a dedicated facility and platform for existing community collections to come together and expand. For example, a national LGBTIQ Museum and Gallery could tell the story of LGBTIQ people in Australia: arts and culture, the quest for equal civil rights and marriage equality, the AIDS epidemic, the lives of famous LGBTIQ Australians, the Gay Mardi Gras history, as well as serving as a library and archive to record and share this valuable knowledge.

Many capital and significant cities worldwide are also home to galleries of contemporary art. The recent establishment of the Museum of Old and New Art, MONA, in Hobart has clearly indicated the powerful effect that such an institution can have on a city and its economy. An Australian Gallery of Contemporary Art would encourage a similar national effect.

Many countries also have dedicated arts universities – Berlin, London and Philadelphia are all good examples of how art and design education can be delivered in a focused institution. Future consideration should be given to the establishment of such a university for Australia.

It is crucial that the Australian Government acknowledge the essential role of our institutions, both within the Parliamentary Triangle as part of a national cultural precinct and through the immense societal value that Canberra’s national institutions create for all Australians. It would be appropriate for the Australian Government to articulate a 30 to 40 year plan for the further development of Australia’s cultural institutions infrastructure, consistent with the expansion and diversity of the Australian story. CONCLUSION

Museums, libraries, archives and galleries are the guardians of the past, the keepers of the Australian story and the stewards of our national identity. Museums, libraries and galleries also inspire the creativity that drives our economy and creates a bright future for Australia. There is a clear role for the Australian Government to play in developing a long-term strategy for the future development of all Canberra’s national institutions.

The ACT Government welcomes this Inquiry into Canberra’s national institutions and will continue to work closely with the institutions and the Australian Government in the future. Continued investment in our shared history is essential to reflect who we are a nation, both to ourselves and to the rest of the world.

Australia’s national institutions are an invaluable record of Australian art and culture, science, history and democracy. This is one of the many reasons ACT Government recognises and values Canberra’s national institutions in their role as Australia’s cultural hub, centre of knowledge and unique visitor experience. Our institutions are facing an increasingly challenging operating environment, with the efficiency dividend and other budget cuts repeatedly requiring institutions to do more with less – a situation that cannot be maintained indefinitely without negatively impacting services.

The ACT Government advocates strongly for continued and long-term Australian Government support of Canberra’s national institutions to enable them to provide high quality public services both today and into the future.

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REFERENCES

1 Australian War Memorial (2015). 2015 sees record number of visitors to the Australian War Memorial. Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/media/press-releases/2015-sees-record-number-visitors-australian- war-memorial 2 Australian War Memorial. (2016). Annual Report 2015-16 . Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/about/organisation/corporate/annual-report-2015-2016 3 National Museum of Australia. (2017). 16-17 Annual Report . Retrieved from http://www.nma.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/517436/NMA-AR-2016-17-final-web.pdf 4 VisitCanberra, ACT Government. (2017). National Attractions. Retrieved from https://visitcanberra.com.au/attractions/national-attractions 5 ACT Government. (2016). ACT International Engagement Strategy. Retrieved from https://www.business.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/982378/CMD-39335-Interntional-City- Strategy_AccPDF.pdf 6 National Capital Authority. (2018). Acton Peninsula Precinct Draft Structure Plan. Retrieved from https://www.nca.gov.au/consultation/acton-peninsula-precinct-draft-structure-plan 7 National Museum of Australia. (2017). Robot tours. Retrieved from http://www.nma.gov.au/engage- learn/school-programs/digital-outreach/robot-tours 8 Smithsonian. (2017). People and Operations. Retrieved from https://www.si.edu/dashboard/people- operations 9 Rural & Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee. (2015). Answers to Questions on Notice. Supplementary Budget Estimates 2015-2016, Infrastructure and Regional Development. Question No: 154. Retrieved from https://www.aph.gov.au/~/media/Committees/rrat_ctte/estimates/sup_1516/infra/answers/15NCA.pdf 10 Commonwealth Government. (2008). Report of a Review of Questacon, Australia's National Science and Technology Centre . Retrieved from https://www.questacon.edu.au/sites/default/files/assets/business/review- 2008/stepping_up_WA.pdf 11 Andrew Taylor. (2019). Efficiency dividend a blunt instrument harming museums, Powerhouse inquiry told. Sydney Morning Herald, 29 September 2016. Retrieved from https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and- design/efficiency-dividend-a-blunt-instrument-harming-museums-powerhouse-inquiry-told-20160928- grql91.html 12 Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit. (2008). Report 413: The Efficiency Dividend: Size does Matter. Retrieved from https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_representatives_Committees?url=jcp aa/efficdiv/report.htm 13 Throsby, David. (2010). The Economics of Cultural Policy, pp. 55-56. 14 Andrew Taylor. (2019). Efficiency dividend a blunt instrument harming museums, Powerhouse inquiry told. Sydney Morning Herald, 29 September 2016. Retrieved from https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and- design/efficiency-dividend-a-blunt-instrument-harming-museums-powerhouse-inquiry-told-20160928- grql91.html 15 Commonwealth Government. (2016). Senate Official Hansard, No. 5, Tuesday 15 March 2016. Retrieved from https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansards/120cdb0 7-6373-4ce4-8fe5-c2c4cfd5c68c/&sid=0067 16 Canberra Times. (2017). Canberra named Lonely Planet's third best city in the world to visit in 2018. Retrieved from https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/canberra-named-lonely-planets-third-best-city-in-the- world-to-visit-in-2018-20171024-gz6xji.html 17 Institutions covered by analysis include the National Library of Australia, National Museum of Australia, National Film and Sound Archive, National Portrait Gallery, National Archives of Australia, National Gallery of Australia and the Australian War Memorial. The number of staff is measured based on headcounts recorded in the APS Employment Database, except for the National Gallery of Australia where full time equivalent staffing number are instead used. 18 National Sports Museum - Melbourne Cricket Ground. (2014). About the National Sports Museum. Retrieved from http://www.nsm.org.au/About%20NSM.aspx

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