Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Nindji Nindji Aboriginal arts and music festival, the only one of its kind in the Pilbara, has been running in South Headland since 1996, and

(ii) due to funding cuts by the Federal Government the Nindji Nindji festival did not occur in 2015;

(b) acknowledges that:

(i) remaining connected to culture is essential in ensuring wellbeing and positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and

(ii) important cultural events like the Nindji Nindji festival are integral in helping Australia move towards reconciliation; and

(c) calls on the Government to reinstate funding to ensure that this important cultural event occurs in 2016.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave has been granted for one minute.

Mitch Fifield (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The only funding history the government can confirm for the Nindji Nindji Festival is for the 2010 event, which was funded, under a former FaHCSIA program, to a host organisation, that being the Bloodwood Tree Association. Records held by the Ministry for the Arts show no evidence of prior funding through the Indigenous arts program.

The Australian government notes the festival and its significance to the Pilbara region and acknowledges the important role that connection to culture has in ensuring the wellbeing of and positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the role that cultural events play in reconciliation. To that end, the Australian government provides targeted funding of around $40 million annually through the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support and Indigenous Languages and Arts programs to promote the sharing of language and culture and the ongoing viability of Indigenous-owned enterprises.

Question agreed to.