I tend to be apolitical (at least publicly).
The new federal government in Arts (Tony Burke MP) has moved quickly to define a new National Cultural Policy which it summarises in its so-called five "pillars".
https://www.arts.gov.au/have-your-say/r ... ral-policy
As bush poetry is Australian Literature at its finest then it has a prime position in the Cultural arena. I was therefore keen to see this "new" light-on-the-hill for Australian culture.. and especially how it affected what I am independently doing at The Australian Cultural Centre Project.
The first point of their five states that Australian Culture is absolutely all about Indigenous Culture as a priority. It is totally dominant and indeed they say it is "central". Basically... don't bother us with much else.
The second point, naturally indirectly phrased, moves to say (as if as an afterthought) that any other identifiable Australian "culture" today is that of the many ethnic (voting) groups existing in Australia. Their native culture has been adopted (presumably without asking the permission of the originating country such as China) and re-branded as Australian to complete the Aussie cultural picture. Now to their credit, they have not specifically excluded the sort of true Australian culture that we cover at the Australian Cultural Centre, but then as it is ignored... conclusions can be drawn.
Anyway....
now for a good laugh on a Sunday at Canberra's expense...
Their third point of the Five(5) also refers to "
supporting the artist as a worker". This is obviously to differentiate the artist from being a hated "boss". But hey, aren't we all Australians and equal, regardless of our presumed class or occupation ... or even race (that distasteful word)?? Not so it seems, according to Tony. Well, you get what you vote for.
In Arts, Bush Poets are certainly artists... Artists with Words.
They might have said "the artist as a hard-working individual" and then they would be right. But they didn't...
Much as Mr Burke would like me to do it, I just cannot imagine myself as an Artist-"Worker", marching in the streets, red banners streaming, clenched fists pounding the air chanting pro-government arts slogans. It might please the Comrades in the party, and certainly Stalin if he was still around, but the cloth cap certainly does not fit me!!
https://www.arts.gov.au/documents/creat ... ral-policy
If funding is doled out on a priority Policy basis to those who proclaim their "worker" status, or claim preferential treatment based on race or ethnic identity .... then my background in that area would not even qualify me for a free coffee from the federal government. (Not that I would accept it from that traitorous bunch anyway...they are all the same, regardless)
At first I was angry and wrote several pages for yet another ignored and basically pointless submission. It helped ameliorate my anger.
THEN it dawned on me... don't be foolish! Let sleeping dogs lie. My path and theirs are now even more totally divergent. They are doing exactly what I want!!! They are keeping out of my way while I get on with the proper noble job.
So.. I said, "Keep your head down. Keep quiet. Fight your war in the shadows. Good versus Evil."
So... yes, a bad day for Australia and those Diggers who fought for it.. but a truly Great Day for me. An unavoidable contradiction.
Time to open that $5 bottle of "Champagne" and celebrate the new (but actually not greatly different) National Cultural Policy on the back deck.. cheese and bikkies too... overlooking the blue water of beautiful Hervey Bay... in my new Tony Burke style, worker-poet's cloth cap.
Cheers! Gary
Pictured below is one rendered view of our proposed respectful Australian Cultural Centre. Looking more and more like an oasis in an otherwise bleak Australian Cultural desert every day?
https://www.facebook.com/The-Australian ... 6537908401