The art is in the taking of money and the guise. It's all in the guise and the gall.

It really is an art form. The product is incidental to the actual art of scamming the government in such an amusing way.

We need more people like that showing the Emperor's clothes.

Really what would we do if the bogans were allowed to define what was art? Only the elite know what art is, and it serves a very important purpose in this world.

I think we would be all the poorer without this, and the private entrepreneurs are busy building Titanic mark 2 rather than the Whiz Bang theatre company.

So the government must step in to ensure our 'cultural heritage' has a better façade than Football Meat Pies Kangaroos and Holden cars. Do you want our diplomats to have to cringe more than they already do about Cate Blanchett?

Before we get too excited about your new money-taking champion Houellebecq, I think we need some more evidence…

So far, looking through the entire internettywebiverse, I've only been able to find: "the Beatty outfit funded an artist to the tune of $90,000.- for his art which was regurgitating food onto a cement slab" from individual in November 2007 on OLO.

Like you I do hope it is basically true – as it would allow me to claim all those late night disco exit homages to River Phoenix were unfunded community art installations.

Would the requisite raw materials – basically drugs, alcohol and kebabs – still be tax deductible?

You're right that "The art is in the taking of money and the guise" and I love alliteration but the musical was guise and doles.

As for athletes – that could be solved by prohibiting more than one 'official' attending for every two athletes competing. I think we'd be amazed at how many were suddenly found by administrators to be qualified.