Stone says art package insufficient

(Friday 15 August 2008)

The Federal Opposition's Indigenous affairs spokeswoman Sharman Stone says the Federal Government’s Indigenous arts initiative is inadequate.

Dr Stone says the arts and culture package does not do enough to protect Aboriginal artists from exploitation.

"Indigenous artists are being ripped off. They are vulnerable, they're being exploited and yet we bask in the glory of Indigenous arts when we're offshore and I think that is quite a disgraceful thing," Dr Stone said.

"[$37.5 million is] a much smaller amount than [what] is needed and much lower than what that Senate inquiry demanded. I think that is a huge lost opportunity because this Rudd Government, with $22 billion surplus, is short-changing the Indigenous arts sector."

(read the full story at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/15/2336026.htm?section=justin)

To view Sharman Stones' full biography, purchase a copy of Who's Who in Australia 2009 or subscribe to Who's Who Live!. For more information about Who's Who publications, click here.