George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

Senator, you do not know much about the way arts funding works in this country, do you?

Senator Jacinta Collins interjecting—

Well, then let me illuminate you, Senator. Most of the arts funding provided by the Australian government to various arts organisations and arts practitioners is provided through the Australia Council. But a very large proportion of the arts funding provided to arts companies and practitioners by the Australian government is not provided through the Australia Council, it is provided through a variety of programs, and in each of those cases the minister for the arts makes an assessment and ultimately a discretion is exercised by the minister for the arts. That is the way arts funding has always worked in this country.