Budget 2023-24: Albanese Government revives Australia's arts and culture
Media Release from The Hon Tony Burke MP
The Albanese Labor Government is delivering record new investment in Australia’s arts sector in the 2023-24 Budget, with almost $950 million in additional spending over four years to safeguard our national institutions, train and support creators, and deliver on the vision of our new national cultural policy, Revive.
The Government has set a new course for the sector that builds on the proud legacy of previous Labor Governments – and marks an end to the decade of decline and neglect inflicted by the Liberals and Nationals.
We’re bringing drive, direction and vision back to a $17 billion industry that employs more than 400,000 Australians – empowering our talented artists and organisations to thrive and grow so they can unlock new opportunities, reach new audiences and tell stories in compelling new ways.
An additional $949.5 million will be invested over the next four years, including:
$535.3 million to secure the future of our most cherished cultural and historical institutions, addressing the decade of chronic underfunding that has left them in a state of disrepair – including $33 million to secure the long-term viability of the National Library’s Trove database.
$286 million to deliver on Revive including through; restoring core arts funding; establishing Creative Australia, Music Australia, Writers Australia and a Creative Workplaces centre to support arts workers; establishing a First Nations-led body dedicated to First Nations work; sharing the National Gallery of Australia’s collection with regional and suburban galleries; and improving incomes for authors.
$9 million in 2023-24 to Australia’s eight national arts training organisations to secure critical training courses and skills development and maintain Australian trained in-demand performers and production specialists for Australia's live performing arts and screen industry and the creative economy more broadly.
An additional $112.3 million to attract international investment in the Australian screen industry to provide domestic employment and training opportunities by increasing the Location Offset rebate to 30 per cent.
$6.9 million over 4 years from 2023-24 for Ausfilm to continue to promote screen productions in Australia.
After less than a year in office the Government has already delivered a comprehensive roadmap to lead the arts and culture sector to a better future.
Our National Collecting Institutions finally have certainty that they can keep their staff and afford urgent repairs and safety upgrades. They can also finally invest for the future with confidence, knowing the Government is guaranteeing their ongoing funding.
Artists and creators – from classical musicians to pub rockers, from First Nations designers to the illustrators of children’s books – know they finally have a Government that values and backs them as workers, not hobbyists.
The culture wars from Government are over. Labor is delivering a new chapter in Australia’s cultural story – backed by record funding.