The Turnbull Government’s election-year Budget has not inflicted major cuts on the Australia Council, but nor has it sought to repair damage done to the sector and the Australia Council by former Minister for the Arts ​Senator Brandis in previous years.
Efficiency dividends continue to bite, as cuts foreshadowed in the 2014-15 Budget measure Arts programmes — reduced funding, the 2015-16 Budget measure Arts and Cultural Programmes – efficiencies, and the 2015-16 MYEFO measure Communications and the Arts Portfolio – efficiencies flow through into the new financial year. Additionally, the Government’s funding of arts and culture has not been adjusted for inflation, which effectively amounts to a cut of approximately $1 million to the sector.
