Minister for the Arts refuses to a meet group of 60 arts representatives in Canberra to debate funding reforms.

It’s been a difficult week for Senator George Brandis. The Attorney General and Minister for the Arts is due to be the subject to no less than two Senate inquiries, to investigate mishandling of aspects of the Sydney siege, and explore why the Minister announced one of the most controversial arts funding reforms in Australia’s political history without any consultation with the arts sector. One might think that Senator Brandis would be keen to build bridges considering the scrutiny and personal ridicule that recent lobbying and protesting has brought upon him. However despite being invited to meet with a delegation of over 60 artists and creative professionals from across Australia in Canberra yesterday, Senator Brandis refused to attend and failed to even send a Government representative in his stead.

The delegation did however meet with Shadow Minister for the Arts Mark Dreyfus, whose lobbying of the Senate saw the passing of a motion earlier this week to begin the inquiry into the funding reforms imposed in the Federal Budget. This will  include Senator Brandis’ controversial Programme for Excellence in the...