[Greens-Media] Greens and Liberals unite to support unique Academy of Music

[Hollo, Tim (Sen C. Milne)]

Greens and Liberals unite to support unique Academy of Music

The Greens and Liberals moved a joint motion in the Senate today calling
on the Rudd Government to immediately reinstate 2008-09 funding for the
Australian National Academy of Music, to ensure that the unique school
stays open next year.

"Australia needs more highly trained professionals, and our musical star
performers, who bring such stimulation and joy to our lives, are
critical to our national well-being," said Australian Greens Deputy
Leader and Arts Spokesperson, Senator Christine Milne.

"The Australian National Academy of Music is Australia's only elite
level musical performance school, and plays a vital role in keeping our
world class musicians at home instead of sending them overseas for the
best years of their lives.

"Closing down the school for reasons which have not been satisfactorily
explained would be a bad move at any time of year. But closing it two
months from the end of the year, leaving staff and students in the
lurch, is completely unacceptable.

"Peter Garrett must immediately reinstate next year's funding for the
Academy, to ensure that students and staff can move into the new year
confident of at least 12 months more stability. If the Academy's
management and governance genuinely need an overhaul, this should be
done in such a way that will guarantee continuity for staff and
students.

"Upcoming sports stars in this country receive tremendous government
support. It has been calculated that each Olympic medal costs Australian
taxpayers some $40 million. Surely $2.5 million a year is not too much
to pay to train some of Australia's best young musicians for their
inspiring global careers."


The motion, supported by the Coalition and the Greens reads:

I move that the Senate:

1. Note the importance of the Australian National Academy of Music as a
unique institution for the cultivation of the country's finest classical
musicians;

2. Deplore statements by the Minister for the Arts, Peter Garrett,
casting aspersions on the efficiency and effectiveness of the Academy;

3. Call on Government to immediately reinstate Commonwealth funding to
the Australian National Academy of Music for financial year 2008-2009 in
the amount of $2,545,000 as originally promised by the Rudd Government.

Tim Hollo 
Media Adviser 
Senator Christine Milne 
Australian Greens Deputy Leader
ph: (02) 6277 3588 
mob: 0437 587 562 
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