Extract from Hansard [ASSEMBLY - Thursday, 3 April 2003] p6132b-6132b Ms Sheila McHale

CULTURAL MINISTERS COUNCIL MEETING, AND Statement by Minister for Culture and the Arts MS S.M. McHALE (Thornlie - Minister for Culture and the Arts) [9.20 am]: On Friday, 28 March 2003 I attended the Cultural Ministers Council meeting with federal and state ministers at which a range of key arts and heritage collections matters were discussed and the importance of the arts and collections sectors to our cultural life were reaffirmed. Before I proceed further, it is with some sadness that I put on record the death of Nick Enright, the Australian playwright. Nick Enright worked in Australian theatre for 30 years, since his first appearance in the JC Williamson production of Oliver. His works include the musicals Venetian Twins and On the Wallaby, both of which were seen in Perth’s Playhouse Theatre. He received an academy award nomination for best original screenplay for Lorenzo’s Oil, he wrote both the stage and film versions of , and another of his plays, Daylight Saving, was presented at the Playhouse Theatre last year. He wrote the script for the musical and adapted Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet, which was one of the highlights of the Festival of Perth for 1998 and was later taken to London’s National Theatre, where it was highly praised. He will be sorely missed by many, including the member for South Perth and the theatre figure Mr Ivan King, for his enormous contribution to theatre in Perth, nationally and internationally. For several years he was a guest tutor at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, helping to shape the talents of future generations of Australian performers. I will now return to the outcomes of the CMC. The major issue considered was the recommendations in the “Report of the Contemporary Visual Arts and Craft Inquiry” - the Myer report. These recommendations aim to increase the viability and vitality of the contemporary visual arts and craft sector and the estimated 20 000 individual artists who make up the sector. Ministers unanimously supported the findings of the report, recognised the need to give priority to the role played by indigenous art and craft centres and, subject to budget processes, agreed to set in place a new cooperative framework for future funding arrangements. An important consideration was an undertaking by the Commonwealth that it would closely examine the recommendations relating to taxation, superannuation, copyright protection and resale royalties for artists. Ministers also discussed the current status of public art in Australia and agreed on the need for a more strategic approach to public art policy. I am pleased to say Western Australia has been leading the nation in public art since establishing our Percent for Art scheme in 1989. The total number of artists awarded a commission is 198, with a flow-on benefit to small businesses such as fabricators, contractors and specialist tradespeople. The ministerial council reaffirmed the crucial economic and social roles the arts play in our community. A vibrant and healthy arts community is essential for the health of strong communities. The Gallop Government is clear in its intentions in this regard and welcomes fruitful discussions of the CMC.

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