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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 6 Hansard (24 May) . . Page.. 1691 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

amended, Australia will not see the next generation of artists. We will not be able to have motions like this in this place celebrating the artists who are receiving grants from this government.

It is quite possible for an exemption to be included in the legislation to allow artists to continue to offset their expenses to get their necessary other forms of income. There already exists a method for distinguishing between hobbyists and real artists as informal criteria agreed upon by the Australian Taxation Office in consultation with the National Association for Visual Arts and the Arts Law Centre of Australia.

Additionally, the proposed New Business Tax System (Integrity Measures) Bill 2000, section 1.47, allows for the commissioner's discretion where special circumstances are applicable to the business activity, so it is evident that the problem is not insoluble. Another exception has already been made in the legislation for primary producers earning less than $40,000 from their second income. It is very clear that at the very least the same exemption should be allowed for artists. The Treasurer has appeared inflexible on this issue, but I believe he is all too well aware, as the federal government is, that the implementation of the new tax system will need careful management.

I have written to the Chief Minister and asked her to write to the Commonwealth government and urge it to allow some small amendments to the bill in order to avoid penalising Australia's artists for their passion and commitment-that section of our community which dedicates a great deal of talent and effort for little or no remuneration but which greatly enriches the nation. I do hope that the Chief Minister will respond. I am sure members would give Mrs Carnell leave now to respond if she is aware of how she is going to answer my letter on this important issue as we are discussing arts in this place. I really hope that the Chief Minister will give an undertaking to write to the Treasurer in support of the artists of Canberra and in the interest of making possible the ongoing contribution to Canberra's cultural life of these organisations that we are congratulating today.

MR SMYTH (Minister for Urban Services) (4.38): Mr Speaker, it is a delight to stand and speak to this motion on support for the arts. The arts is part of the social fabric of Canberra. It is something that makes Canberra the great place that it is to live in. We would say that it adds to the social capital of Canberra. Mr Wood would agree that there is just so much art out there.

Triennial funding is important because triennially funded arts organisations are executing groundbreaking results and inspiring work that could not be achieved without that sort of funding. They need the funding over the period to make sure that they can develop what it is that they are doing.

One of the good examples of that is the Canberra Youth Theatre. It is the longest established youth theatre in Australia, with a high profile, and an unequalled reputation in youth theatre activities. The company is to be congratulated for all that it does. The company has been a feature of Canberra's arts community for many years, and the opportunities that it creates for young people to learn and to participate in the performing arts is certainly valued by this community.

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