Senator SANDY MACDONALD —My question is addressed to the Minister for Communications, the Information Economy and the Arts. Minister, the Australian government has demonstrated a continuing commitment to the funding of the arts. This has been appropriate and particularly successful in rural and regional areas. Are you aware of any alternative arts policy proposals? What would be the impact on Australia's cultural life and identity if these were implemented?

Senator ALSTON (Communications, the Information Economy and the Arts) —I thank Senator Sandy Macdonald for that question. The arts are an integral part of Australian society. They not only contribute to people's opportunities for creativity but also provide innumerable opportunities for people to enjoy the better things in life to appreciate the aesthetic qualities of many art forms. In fact, in one year in Australia, there are about 16 million attendances at 280 publicly funded museums and art galleries. More people visit museums than attend sporting functions. About 83 per cent of the adult population are involved in some form of cultural activity. A recent survey shows that 88 per cent of Australians believe that museums, theatres and orchestras make the community a better place to live.

There are something in excess of 250,000 people employed in the cultural industries. It is a $5 billion industry. It is crucial to a progressive and outward looking society. Nothing is surer than the fact that this government is very much committed to moving away from those Sydneycentric policies that the crowd on the other side have espoused for so long and directing arts funding much more to regional and rural Australia. That is why we have had a $7.5 million regional arts fund. That is why we have provided additional funding for touring for Playing Australia, which is the performing arts touring association; and for Visions, which is the visual arts equivalent; and for festivals to regional areas. We have provided funds for Australia's cultural network for emerging artists. In other words, in regional and rural areas we recognise that the arts and cultural activities are often the most important single community gathering in its main centre.

There are a couple of other parties around that deserve to be put under the spotlight. Of course, Labor to date has no policies at all on the arts. All we have seen out of Hobart and elsewhere is a bit of carping at the edges. But, basically, it has come up with absolutely nothing.

One Nation, however, deserves a mention because at least it has had the courage to get out there and say that it would slash the arts to ribbons. It wanted to take $80 million out of the arts in Queensland.

Senator Schacht —Why did you give them preferences in Queensland?

The PRESIDENT —Order, Senator!

Senator ALSTON —It wanted to take $80 million out of the arts in Queensland alone. Of course, that would threaten the existence of the Cairns Regional Arts Gallery and the $17.5 million expansion of the Townsville Museum of Tropical Queensland.

It is extraordinary that, against this sort of cultural philistinism that is going on up north, we have had such a deathly silence from the Labor Party. Mr Beazley has been very busy running around, telling the most outrageous lies about postal services and telecommunications services. It is quite clear that Labor's strategy is to try to drum up as much discontent and disaffection with mainstream politics as possible. In other words, Labor's real agenda is to drive people into the arms of Hanson. That is what it is trying to do; that is what it is doing. It is not interested in getting out and supporting us in arguing for the arts. If you are fair dinkum, why wouldn't you want to get out there and support funding for the arts?

You have said nothing at all about it, because you want to pander to Hansonism. That is what you want. This is very clever stuff: whip up a bit of discontent, get out there and scare the pants off them, watch them go away from us, watch them go to Hanson. That is what you want to see, isn't it. You want to see the Hanson vote maximised, because you think that will leave you as the last one standing. You think that will maximise the Labor vote by taking votes away from us, don't you? That is your strategy—not a skerrick of principle, not an ounce of interest in the arts or any cultural activities. (Time expired)

Honourable senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! The behaviour in the chamber is totally unacceptable.