Aussie gov’t appoints screen leaders to advisory panels to inform next phase of cultural policy

The Australian government has tapped leaders from across the screen sector as appointees to a new Policy Advisory Group that will guide the renewed National Cultural Policy which is currently open for consultation.

Tony Burke

The government opened the consultation period for the National Cultural Policy last week and is inviting submissions from the cultural and creative sectors and the public in addition to a series of town hall sessions that will inform the new agenda.

The nine member Policy Advisory Group will provide expert advice and industry perspectives to the government.

Screen Australia chief Deirdre Brennan, Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) chief Nell Greenwood, Creative Australia chief Adrian Collette and Australia Council Board of Creative Australia deputy chair Rosheen Garnon are included.

Australia Council Board of Creative Australia chair Wesley Enoch, Sydney Opera House director of programming Brenna Hobson, Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) & AMCOS chief Dean Ormston, University of Technology head of creative writing Professor Sarah Holland-Batt and Melbourne Fringe CEO and creative director Simon Abrahams make up the panel.

“Each member brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help lay the foundation where for the first time there will have been consecutive national cultural policies,” said Minister of the Arts, Tony Burke.

Additionally, five Expert Panels have been established under the framework’s pillars: First Nations First, Centrality of the Artist, A Place for Every Story, Strong Cultural Infrastructure, and Engaging the Audience.

Representatives from the screen industry sector appointed to the expert panels include Blackfella Films MD and producer Darren Dale on the First Nations First panel; Bus Stop Films’ CEO Tracey Corbin-Matchett appointed to the A Place for Every Story panel;  Working Dog Productions CEO Rob Sitch to the Centrality of the Artist panel and Tattarang head of public affairs and Screen NSW Screen and Digital Games Industries Advisory Committee deputy chair Bruce Meagher anointed to the  Strong Cultural Infrastructure expert panel.

The panels will inform the Minister Burke and the Policy Advisory Group on key issues and themes raised through the public consultation process.