Federal Labor's guiding arts principles have been welcomed by the McGowan Government, which has had an ongoing commitment to the diversification of the economy through strengthening the cultural and creative industries in Western Australia.
Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman today said the three key principles outlined by Federal Shadow Minister for the Arts Tony Burke complemented WA's position on the arts and would encourage further growth in the sector.
Recognising artists as workers and extending the powers of the Fair Work Commission to include employee-like forms of works would better protect artists, which often worked in a gig type economy.
Celebrating Australian stories first - the second guiding principle - would echo recent efforts by the McGowan Government to highlight and promote Western Australian stories through the WA Museum Boola Bardip, the new Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) and the development of a $105 million screen production facility in Fremantle.
Further to this, the development of a cultural policy to guide decision making would provide the sector with a clear path forward.
As stated by Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman:
"At a time when people are consuming more content than ever before, the Morrison Liberal Government has been asleep at the wheel on arts policy.
"If COVID-19 has shown us anything, it is that we have wonderful talent right here in our own backyard and this is something we should be celebrating and promoting, investing in and funding.
"The McGowan Government recognises the key role played by the arts and cultural industries in the diversification of the economy and has invested accordingly.
"The development of a $105 million screen production facility in Fremantle, together with a $20 million Screen Production Attraction Fund, will help deliver Western Australian stories to the world.
"Together with our new WA Museum Boola Bardip and the redeveloped AGWA rooftop, we are celebrating Western Australia and our place in the world.
"I look forward to working together with a Federal Labor Government to further enhance and progress our cultural and creative industries."
