Peter Garrett MP
Member for Kingsford Smith
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Reconciliation and the Arts

Labor welcomes the motion passed in the Senate today for an inquiry into the Indigenous art sector. This inquiry has been a long time coming.

In early March Minister Kemp announced that he was seeking “urgent advice” from his department, and in April he sought consultations with peak bodies and government agencies.

Five months later and finally there is action from the Minister.

The inquiry will be conducted by the Senate Environment, Communications, IT, and the Arts Legislation Committee and follows sustained lobbying from the Labor Party as well as a vocal campaign by the Indigenous art industry and sections of the media dating back to 1998.

Additionally, in 2002 the Myer Report highlighted the need for urgent action to tackle the growing problems within the industry as well as the introduction of a resale royalty scheme – an initiative quashed by the government in this year’s Budget.

The problems associated with unscrupulous and unethical conduct by some art dealers, in an industry estimated to be worth between $ 100 million and $ 300 million, seriously threaten the sector’s viability and demand a federal approach.

Labor looks forward to the tabling of this report and will closely scrutinise the government’s response.

Contact: Andrew Palfreyman