List of Recommendations

Recommendation 1

1.24

The Committee recommends that, noting the significant short and
long-term impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency on the arts sector, the Commonwealth Government develop a national cultural plan to assess the medium and long term needs of the sector.

Recommendation 2

1.25

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government encourage each level of government to develop and administer strategies to grow cultural and creative industries within their own jurisdictions. The levels of government should liaise regularly, and place a strong focus on rural, regional and remote support for the creative and cultural industries

1.26

The Committee further recommends that the Commonwealth Government direct the Productivity Commission to inquire into the legislative arrangements which govern funding of artistic programs and activities at all levels of government. The Productivity Commission should consider barriers and opportunities for artistic programs to be established at the different levels of government.

Recommendation 3

2.172

The Committee recommends that the Office for the Arts investigate the establishment of a national centre of Indigenous culture and arts of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork. The Office for the Arts should ensure that any proposal is co-designed with Indigenous communities and arts bodies.

2.173

As part of the co-design process, the Office for the Arts should consider the most culturally appropriate site on which to build a national centre of Indigenous culture and arts; how to create a national network of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander galleries in partnership with State/Territory art institutions; and examine how museums and galleries can further improve Indigenous representation and participation across all areas.

Recommendation 4

2.174

The Committee recommends the title of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications be amended to include the Arts.

Recommendation 5

2.175

The Committee recommends that the Office for the Arts consider what resourcing or data would be required to create an app which contains a repository of information of current artistic and cultural events.

2.176

The Committee further recommends that the Office for the Arts consult with Tourism Australia, and State and Territory Government peak bodies and other industry-relevant entities.

Recommendation 6

2.177

The Committee recognises the enormous potential of the interactive games sector for Australia and welcomes the implementation of the Digital Games Tax Offset. The Committee recommends that the relevant Commonwealth Minister report to the Committee on progress 12 months from the commencement of the offset.

Recommendation 7

2.178

The Committee notes that the Public Lending Right and Educational Lending Right (PLR/ELR) each attract a single payment and recommends that the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications undertake a review of the PLR/ELR programs to ensure that authors are being appropriately compensated for income lost through free multiple use of their books in public and educational lending libraries.

2.179

The Committee further recommends that the Department consult with peak bodies, Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (APRA AMCOS), authors, and other industry-relevant entities.

Recommendation 8

2.180

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government introduce legislation that requires over-the-top (OTT) media services (streaming and video/subscription video on demand services) to allocate at least 20 per cent of their local revenue on new Australian drama, documentary, children’s content, commissions, co-productions or acquisitions of content.

2.181

The new legislation should also prescribe that OTT services allocate at least 20 per cent of the 20 per cent quota to local children's content and drama.

Recommendation 9

3.79

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government consider working with tertiary education providers to develop a program of internships and cadetships which would see students and young people work in regional, small and/or community-focussed galleries, libraries, archives and museums.

3.80

The Commonwealth Government should request input from the Office for the Arts, Department of Education, Skills and Employment and Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications as well as regional arts and cultural organisations, to develop a pilot program.

Recommendation 10

3.81

The Committee notes the urgent funding provided by the Commonwealth Government to the National Archives of Australia to conduct digitisation and preservation work, and recommends that additional funding be provided to the National Film and Sound Archive to conduct similar urgent work.

Recommendation 11

4.96

The Committee notes the additional funding allocated to Support Act in the 2021-22 budget, and recommends that the Commonwealth Government continue to monitor and assess the need for further funding to Support Act as the public health emergency continues.

4.97

The Committee invites Support Act to update the Committee on its work by June 2022.

Recommendation 12

5.63

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth, State and Territory Education Ministers Meeting consider adding a fourth cross-curriculum priority: ‘the Arts’. The Committee recommends that this priority be in addition to (and not a replacement for) the arts as a key learning area.

Recommendation 13

5.64

The Committee recommends that there be a minimum threshold of Australian-authored literary texts in the Australian Curriculum.

Recommendation 14

5.65

The Committee recommends that the criteria for capital expenditure set out in the Australian Education Act 2013, provided for in the Capital Grants Program, include expenditure relating to equipment and facilities for arts, performance and cultural activities.

Recommendation 15

6.82

The Committee recommends the Commonwealth Government provide additional funding to the Australian Bureau of Statistics to produce the Cultural and Creative Satellite Accounts annually, gather and publish data on levels and type of employment, trends, revenue, geographic trends across the creative and cultural industries.

Recommendation 16

6.83

The Committee recommends the Australian Bureau of Statistics add questions to the Census which better account for the professions of those working in gig economies, and across the creative and cultural industries with recognition of paid and unpaid work.

Recommendation 17

6.84

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government ensures that the patent box tax regime is extended to intellectual property relating to the creation of video games and related technology in Australia.

Recommendation 18

6.85

The Committee recommends that the Office for the Arts investigate the delivery of an ‘Art Starter’ portal containing information for artists, and those engaged in the creative economy, at all stages of their careers to enable Australia’s arts industry to continue to grow and reach new audiences. The portal should include information on:

financial literacy, including information on taxation regimes and subsidies;

digital literacy;

intellectual property and licensing of designs;

working with a business mentor to allow readiness for monetisation opportunities;

services and support available across government to help businesses through business.gov.au;

information on grants and funding opportunities, scholarships and prizes particularly for emerging artists;

information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists on protecting their work, and accessing advice on moving forward in the global art world; and

other information, as required.

6.86

The Committee further recommends that the Office for the Arts investigate the potential for an Art Starter portal with other relevant Commonwealth, State and Territory Agencies, and industry peak bodies.

Recommendation 19

6.87

The Committee recommends the Office for the Arts investigate ways in which to support regional peak bodies for the creative and cultural arts industries and institutions.

Recommendation 20

6.88

The Committee recommends that the Office for the Arts, in collaboration with the Australia Council for the Arts, establish a new ‘Local Artistic Champions Program’ (akin to the existing Local Sporting Champions Program) to enable emerging Australian student artists, musicians, authors, playwrights, filmmakers, digital artists and game developers to apply for grants to support attendance at competitions, exhibitions, skills development courses relevant to their craft.

Recommendation 21

6.89

The Committee recommends that the Office for the Arts establish a Music Access Assistance Program to increase active participation of school students, particularly in low socio-economic, rural and regional areas, in musical endeavours.

6.90

The Music Access Assistance Program should provide affordable access to music education opportunities including instruments, music books and other musical equipment.

Recommendation 22

6.91

The Committee recommends that the relevant Commonwealth minister(s) report on the progress of the Committee’s recommendations by December 2022.

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