Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Milne, move:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes the importance of the Australian National Academy of Music as a unique institution for the cultivation of Australia’s finest classical musicians;

(b)

deplores statements by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts (Mr Garrett) casting aspersions on the efficiency and effectiveness of the academy; and

(c)

calls on the Government immediately to reinstate Commonwealth funding to the Australian National Academy of Music for the 2008-09 financial year in the amount of $2 545 000, as originally promised by the Rudd Government.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave granted.

On behalf of Senators Kroger and Brandis—who I know were very anxious to talk on this matter but, because of time constraints, have not done so—I record their very strong support for this motion.