Portfolio Media

Peter Garrett - the King of the Backflip

24 August 2009

Arts Minister Peter Garrett has today backflipped on his earlier decision to axe funding for the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), says Shadow Arts Minister Steven Ciobo.

Labor’s embarrassing about-face comes almost one year after Minister Garrett resolutely told ANAM they would be forced to shut their doors after his decision to slash $2.5 million in

funding for the centre.

Then two months later Minister Garrett backflipped on that decision, granting ANAM a one-year stay of execution.

“Now after relentless pressure from the Coalition, Minister Garrett has had another change of heart and decided to grant ANAM another year of funding, allowing them to survive into 2010” Mr Ciobo said.

“Minister Garrett was so dogged in his original decision to close the academy, yet within the space of nine months, he’s backed down not once, but twice on funding for this centre of musical excellence.”

“This is a big win for the students of ANAM, for elite musical achievement in Australia, but also for common sense. It again shows his original decision to shut ANAM was a rushed and botched one.”

“Mr Garrett once said the ANAM was not the most effective, or efficient model to support elite musicians, yet he has subsequently made two decisions to grant funding to the centre – good news for ANAM, but disconcerting for anyone reliant on Minister Garrett for leadership.”

“What this confirms is Minister Garrett’s status as the Rudd Labor Government’s greatest phoney. Whether it’s saving whales, uranium mining or supporting the nation’s musicians, Minister Garrett seems not only to have forgotten his original ethos, but also shown he’s a master of political debacles.”

“This is a Minister who has lost control of his own policy agenda.”