The new Gillard Cabinet announced on the weekend will see Garrett replaced in the Arts Ministry by Simon Crean.
It also appears that the arts will be managed as a stand-alone portfolio with the other policy area of environment, to be managed within other ministries. This is a positive sign that the issues that have beset the arts industry this year – code of conduct, resale royalties and Cooper – will now be properly addressed by the experienced Mr Crean.
However Crean will also have carriage of the potential powderkeg of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government in the new ministry. This is an extremely sensitive portfolio in the minority Gillard government, which is dependent on the support of the two NSW country independents and Andrew Wilkie in Tasmania to prosecute its agenda over the next three years.
Peter Garrett’s demotion from the Arts Ministry was foretold by Katrina Strickland a fortnight before the federal election. She wrote the following in the Australian Financial Review on 3 August in an article titled “Collectables are safe, but it may not save Garrett”:
The former Midnight Oil frontman received a rock star welcome when he took over as Arts Minister in 2007, which was apt because he was, well, a rock star. Nearly three years later the gloss has worn off and you don’t have to go far to hear arts executives complaining…about how disappointing Garrett has been.
In relation to the Cooper Report, its recommendations will now be handled by Bill Shorten, who has been promoted to Assistant Treasurer, Financial Services and Superannuation. Prime Minister Julia Gillard has indicated that she will be pursuing the legislative agenda of the former Rudd Government regardless of the minority status of her government.
If this is the case, we will know when Federal Parliament resumes next month if the Cooper recommendations in relation to artworks and collectables are still planned to take effect from July 1, 2011.
