It's all about bums on seats when it comes to government patronage (no offence to the bums). The Arts are never going to have a big following and the funding follows suit. The market dictates everything. Of course we have to have "culture"; it creates the illusion that we're all blissfully happy cultivating our Australianess. Government patronage also cultivates subscription, so it's a good investment.
And by fating our sporting heroes and divas (same thing) we also enlist them as patriots and role models. It's a wonderful example of social evolution. These same exemplary role models then go on to be Australians and fathers/mothers of the year, national coaches, selectors, politicians and general drones and mouthpieces for the status quo. Witness John Alexander, Rob De Costello, Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist and on and on and on. High culture, sport or the arts, keep the masses mesmerised.
Raise the dust, your poet Laureate is Les Murray; he keeps the legend alive. I wish he wouldn't!

It is a shame that the PM does not read more books on Islam to better inform her policy direction on immigration.
Might I suggest Wafa Sultan's "A God Who Hates" or "Stealth Jihad" by Robert Spencer?

Dear Prime Minister,

I'm a sceptic

I believe this article is a simple distraction and deflection.

Here is why!

I wonder why you, as reported in the media, at the last minute, took off to a meeting in Portugal, where we were always going to be largely irrelevant to it's outcome ... while in Sydney that same weekend the 'faceless men' of the labor party were discussing the next few months strategy of the Parliamentary Labor Party (also as reported in the media)? Why were you not included?

It strikes me that given your standing in the current polls, as reported in the media, you have a lower standing than former PM Kevin Rudd, that they were more likely to this week both Graham Richardson and Mark Arfrib have publicly bought into question your agenda(or more exactly your lack of it) and thence indirectly your leadership?

Isn't this what happened to former PM Kevin Rudd? When are you going to back flip on Gay Marriage and NBN?

ie The 'faceless men' spent months discussing former PM Kevin Rudd's falling in the polls and his stances on key policy issues as the labor biased Australia media spent months ignoring those issues, even though everyone was quite aware of the disquiet.

How is that for an unbiased estimate PM?

I reckon it is a case of the faceless lost trying to find the way for the Government that's still lost it's way. I reckon all they are able to do is revert to what they've found convienent in the past and has produced results for them. If they don't ... well you've lost the next election any way.

Whatda ya recken Julya and btw isn't the Arts Simon Crean's responsibility?

Well said Arjay.

Further to your comments, I wonder what’s happening about Gillard’s purported dislike of Rudd’s ‘Big Australia’, as clearly stated shortly after her ascendancy?

There hasn’t been a hint of a change of policy or a redirection towards a stable population or a significantly lower rate of immigration or anything of the sort, has there?

--

An article about the arts from our PM?

<< …a simple distraction and deflection >>

Yep, I reckon you’re right Keith.

OOPS Should have read

Dear Prime Minister,

I'm a sceptic

I believe this article is a simple distraction and deflection.

Here is why!

I wonder why you, as reported in the media, at the last minute, took off to a meeting in Portugal, where we were always going to be largely irrelevant to it's outcome ... while in Sydney that same weekend the 'faceless men' of the labor party were discussing the next few months strategy of the Parliamentary Labor Party (also as reported in the media)? Why were you not included?

It strikes me that given your standing in the current polls, as reported in the media, and as you have a lower standing than former PM Kevin Rudd, that the your former 'faceless mates' were more likely to be discussing your falling poll fortunes than anything else. It is also strikingly odd that this week both Graham Richardson and Mark Arfrib have publicly bought into question your agenda(or more exactly your lack of it) and thence indirectly your leadership (or more exactly your lack of it.)

Isn't this what happened to former PM Kevin Rudd? ie The 'faceless men' and you spent months discussing former PM Kevin Rudd's falling in the polls and his stances on key policy issues as the labor biased Australia media spent months ignoring those issues, even though everyone was quite aware of the disquiet.

When are you going to back flip on Gay Marriage and NBN?

How is that for an unbiased estimate PM?

I reckon it is a case of the faceless lost trying to find the way for the Government that's still lost it's way. I reckon all they are able to do is revert to what they've found convienent in the past and has produced results for them. If they don't ... well you've lost the next election any way.

Whatda ya recken Joolya and btw isn't the Arts Simon Crean's responsibility?