Australian Government

The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today (8 May) announced a range of measures to support Australia’s public broadcasters.  Full release on website.

NSW Health

On 26 April 2012, the Hon Jillian Skinner MP, Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research together with Hon Victor Dominello MP, Minister for Citizenship and Communities and NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs launched the NSW Health Policy and Implementation Plan for Healthy Culturally Diverse Communities, 2012- 2016.

The Plan highlights and builds on the key achievements of the NSW Ministry of Health including strategic directions to improve the health status of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups including women, emerging communities, refugees and people living with a disability.

For full document go to website.

Victorian TAFE Association

The Victorian TAFE Association is providing a brief statement in response to the Victorian State Budget 1 May 2012.  Download full document by clicking here.

Australian Government

Arts Minister Simon Crean today announced a funding boost of $64.1 million over four years to secure jobs in the arts, cultural heritage and creative industries and build the base for future growth in the arts.  Full statement on website.

The High Court dismissed an appeal by a number of film and television companies from a decision of the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia. The High Court held that the respondent, an internet service provider, had not authorised the infringement by its customers of the appellants' copyright in commercially released films and television programs. The full judgement is at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/HCA/2012/16.html

Tech Production Network (TPN)
In an Australian first, we have produced a complete online resource for Music, Music Technology and Technical Production students - accessed via the revolutionary Alive Drive technology platform.

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

Today the Definitive Agreements between NBN Co and Telstra come into force.
This is another key milestone in delivering the National Broadband Network and giving all Australians access to the infrastructure that will boost our future prosperity.  Full release click here.

The Australian Law Reform Commission

The ALRC tabled its report on classification in Parliament on March 1 and it is now on its website.

CDs are the 2nd biggest polluter in the music industry
*Using cardboard instead of plastic CD cases reduces this pollution by 95%
In an industry first, Austep Music is offering card CD packaging for the same price as plastic cases. Our CD pressing factory has accepted the challenge - if we can unite the Australian music industry and build enough group buying power to sustain it, they will continue to offer cardboard packaging at these prices. Signup below to pledge your support.
website.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, the Hon Chris Bowen MP has announced a reduction in assessment levels for 29 countries, effective from 24 March. Click here to view the announcement.

A copy of speech made by Peter Garrett, Minister of School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, at the opening of the National Visual Education Conference, January 2012 can be downloaded by clicking here.

ENCATC has officially launched the first issue of the ENCATC Online Journal of Cultural Management and Policy.  The objective of the ENCATC Journal of Cultural Management and Policy is to stimulate the debate on the topics of cultural management and cultural policy among scholars, educators, policy makers and cultural managers.  
website

Freemuse relaunches on Facebook with improved page
And we invite you to be our friend! Our goal with the new Freemuse page is to increase traffic, and thereby increase worldwide awareness of violations of freedom of musical expression. It will serve as the new place in Facebook where you can share your thoughts, news stories, links and visions with us. We hope you will LIKE US now - and be freemused.
Click on the 'like'-button:
www.facebook.com/freemusesec

English language articles of the highest international scholarly standards in the areas of Composition, Early Music, Ethnomusicology, Gender Studies in Music, Interdisciplinary Studies in Music, Music Education, Music Technologies, Musicology, Performance Practice, Popular Music
WEBSITE

Ministerial statement to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee - Improvements to Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)
WEBSITE

Congress has directed the U.S. Copyright Office to conduct a study on the desirability and means of bringing sound recordings fixed before February 15, 1972, under federal jurisdiction. The study is to cover the effect of federal coverage on the preservation of such sound recordings, the effect on public access to those recordings, and the economic impact of federal coverage on rights holders. The study is also to examine the means for accomplishing such coverage.
Full Trasscript click HERE

Organisation: The Australian Council for International Development

A decision of the High Court of Australia today reflects a contemporary understanding of charitable work, says the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), the peak body for Australian aid and development NGOs.

Organisation: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority

The current call for Expressions of Interest for Curriculum Writers and the advisory panel for the development of the Arts Curriculum closes on Friday 10 December 2010. The development of the Arts curriculum will take place in 2011. If you or your colleagues have not yet submitted an Expression of Interest and would like to do so please find further information and application forms at:

Deadline: 2010-12-10

Organisation: Better Regulation Office , NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet

The NSW Government has released the Final Report of the Review of the Entertainment Industry Act 1989 and approved all recommendations. Thank you for your involvement in the review.

Organisation: Victorian Government

The Brumby Labor Government, the Director of Liquor Licensing and Victoria's live music community have signed a new agreement recognising the importance of live music and introducing a commonsense approach to security conditions for live music venues.

Organisation: Arts Peak

ArtsPeak, the confederation of Australian national peak arts organisations, is calling on the Government to honour Julia Gillard's pledge of 18 July 2010 to reduce the efficiency dividend from 1.25% to 1%.

Organisation: Australian Labor Party

A re-elected Gillard Labor Government will provide new funding to the Australia Council to nurture the creative process, help artists create new work and ensure audiences have greater access to a diversity of creative expressions.

Organisation: Australian Greens

The Australian Greens are today launching a policy platform to help ensure a vibrant future for the performing arts in Australia. The platform includes grants programs for innovation in the arts and for touring domestically and globally, policies to support artists through periods of unpredictable work, and a commitment to begin political engagement with the challenge of cleaning up copyright law.

Organisation: Cultural Ministers Council

Live concerts and performances have a very special role in Australia's cultural and creative life and are pivotal in helping Australian performers showcase their talents, hone their skills and earn an income.

Organisation: MCA

In response to an inquiry about the Coalition's arts policy, the Office of Steven Ciobo MP, Shadow Minister for Tourism, the Arts, Youth and Sport has provided this statement:

Organisation: Australian Communications and Media Authority

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has registered a new commercial radio code of practice relating to Australian music.

Organisation: The Australian Greens Party

The full policy statement is downloadable in pdf file.

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Organisation: Liberal Party of Australia

Coalition policy on education rebate is said to include a broader range of educational expenses including music tuition and musical instruments.

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Organisation: mi2n

Comment from RIAA Chairman & CEO Mitch Bainwol on recent U.K. passage of the Digital Economy Act, legislation that will provide enhanced measures for ISPs and creators to protect creative works online.

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Organisation: Culture Action Europe

The European Union has adopted its new economic strategy entitled 'Europe 2020'. A major EU policy framework, it will form the basis of the direction for the European integration project in the 10 years to come. How will it work, and what political and policy environment does it set for arts and culture in the EU? Culture Action Europe has put its thinking hat on to open the debate.

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Deadline: 2010-08-30

Organisation: Music Council of Australia

The Music Council of Australia has taken a very strong interest in issues concerning music education and was partly responsible for the instigation of the Commonwealth's National Review of School Music Education of 2005 and developments since.

Organisation: Music Council of Australia

The Music Council has made a submission to the Commonwealth Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, making a number of proposals as it considers Australian accession to the UNESCO Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

Organisation: Music Council of Australia

The Music Council responded to an Options Paper prepared by the Better Regulation Office and the Office of Industrial Relations.

Organisation: Music Council of Australia

This agreement is under negotiation with Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States of America.

Organisation: Music Council of Australia

The Minister for the Arts, Peter Garrett, issued an open invitation for submissions to assist in the development of a national cultural policy. This is the MCA's response.

Organisation: Music Council of Australia

The Music Council agrees with the Minister who, in his foreword to the Green Paper, says that while "[s]pectrum is valuable to potential purchasers' of far greater benefit are the opportunities it can offer to all Australians by providing new services for individuals and businesses".

Organisation: Music Council of Australia

The submission lays out the basic argument from the cultural sector for the exclusion of culture from free trade agreements.

Organisation: Music Council of Australia

Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) is the "self-regulator" for this Code which imposes the obligation on commercial free-to-air radio broadcasters to devote a percentage of the time given to broadcasting music to Australian music.

Organisation: Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC)

The Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) is applauding Charlie Angus, NDP Parliamentary Critic of Canadian Heritage, for his introduction of a Private Member's Bill to expand the private copying levy to digital audio devices, such as the iPod.

Organisation: Music Council of Australia

The submission calls for local content rules to be placed upon free to air digital television multichannels. It notes that the broadcasters, not now subject to local content requirements, present very minimal levels of Australian content. In return for access to public spectrum, and the recent licence fee rebate, it is reasonable to impose local content obligations upon them.

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Deadline: 2010-11-30

Organisation: Music Council of Australia

The submission lays out the basic argument from the cultural sector for the exclusion of culture from free trade agreements.

Organisation: Music Council of Australia

This review is focused on identifying specific areas of Australian Government regulation that are unnecessarily burdensome, complex or redundant or duplicate regulations or the role of regulatory bodies including those in other jurisdictions.

Organisation: Brydie Leigh-Bartleet, Peter Dunbar-Hall, Richard Letts, Huib Schippers May 2009

This study was initiated by the MCA and carried out by the Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre with an ARC grant.

Organisation: Freemuse

The Freemuse conference on music censorship which was held in Beirut in 2005 included a session on heavy metal. A few years earlier there had been series ofcrackdowns on heavy metal musicians and fans in several Middle Eastern countries.

Organisation: MCA

The Music Council of Australia has sent a big submission to the national cultural policy project undertaken by Arts Minister Peter Garrett. Here are some quotes.

Organisation: MCA

New multichannels are being set up on Australian digital television. Under the lamentable free trade agreement with the USA, there are limitations on the amount of Australian programming that can be required of the multichannels.