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Michael Danby
Federal Member for Melbourne Ports
24th November 2008
Michael's speech was reported in Melbourne's Herald Sun (to read, click here) and the Sydney Morning Herald (to read, click here).
Mr DANBY (Melbourne Ports) (10.32 p.m.)-The Australian National Academy of Music is located in Bank Street, South Melbourne, in my electorate. It is part of the arts precinct in Southbank and South Melbourne that employs many people and brings such cultural vitality to the area I represent. Many of its staff and some of its students are my constituents. I respect the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. I know he has had a difficult job grappling with the future of the Australian National Academy of Music, but I make no secret of the fact that I regret the minister's decision to end funding for the academy as of the end of this year. I have discussed this issue with the minister and with the director of the academy. It is still my view that it is in the interests of the academy's students and in the interests of the future of classical music performance in Australia for the academy to remain in existence and in its present premises. Achieving that objective is my aim.
The current proposal is that the academy's functions be transferred to a new body, the Australian Institute of Music Performance, located at the University of Melbourne. There are no physical premises ready at the university to receive the academy's students at the start of 2009. I understand that the university intends building a new performance facility at the conservatorium, but that will certainly not be ready next year, so the academy's current students will at best have to be in makeshift premises next year, to the detriment of their training. The minister has said that transitional arrangements will be made for ANAM students in 2009. I am sure he means this, but I still think that there is a risk that students who have already been accepted by the academy for 2009 and have planned their lives around that assumption may find themselves with no place to perform. As successful applicant for the ANAM 2009 Samuel Curkpatrick said in last weekend's Sunday Herald Sun:
Students of the Australian National Academy of Music
"The audition process was gruelling. On top of 15 years of playing experience, and a bachelor degree with honours, it involved at least 50 practice hours, three rounds of national auditions , observed group rehearsal and interviews. Too bad there in now no alternative (post-graduate applications have closed)."
Some have indicated that they will go overseas. This would be a tragedy for Australia.
The second issue is that the function of a university is to grant degrees and to educate students to the level required to gain a degree. The Australian National Academy of Music is not an educational institution in that sense. Many of its students are already graduates in music. Its function is not to grant degrees; it is to train elite musical performers and to bring them to a level at which they can perform with the best musicians in the world. Moving them to Melbourne university, an institution with different objectives, and placing them in an undergraduate environment, with all its competing pressures and distractions, will also be to their detriment. The minister has said that ANAM students will be able to undertake non-degree based performance training at the university. That may be the intention, but I am not persuaded that this will be an adequate substitute for the training they are currently getting at the dedicated facilities at the academy in South Melbourne.
The Performance Centre of the Australian National Academy of Music at the South Melbourne Town Hall
Since the minister announced his decision, I have seen the academy's development strategy of December 2006 and the report on the academy's future by Jonathan Mills. Both these reports recommended that the academy be retained as an independent institution and that its funding be increased to enable it to meet its responsibilities more effectively. Mr Mills recommended that the academy's funding be increased from its current $2.5 million a year to about $6.5 million or $7 million. I note that we spend $15 million a year training elite sports men and women at the Australian Institute of Sport. Achieving excellence in the arts is every bit as important-and many would say it is more important-as achieving excellence in sport.
I hope the minister will take note of the concerns expressed by the students and staff of the academy and of the respected members of the arts community-concerns that I, as the academy's local member, have given voice to tonight-and reconsider his decision. I stand ready to work with the minister for the benefit of the ANAM staff and, most importantly, its current and prospective students. We cannot say to our greatest future classical music talent: you were once elite and now you are on the street.
On the 28th of November Minister Garrett announced that ANAM would keep its name and discussions with the faculty and students regarding their concerns have occured and they would be receiving further funding of $500,000. Click here to read the announcement.
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don't worry Shane.More info here than in the Spencer St Soviet.I think they are motivated by bigotry in blocking any mention of Danby.
Posted by brother bill on 2008-12-05 13:52:45 GMT
Dear Michael, The posting on your website of 3 December contains a number of comments which deserve clarification. ANAM has 8.7 fulltime equivalent administrative staff, not 12 as stated by your correspondent. In 2008 the Academy presented over 170 public performances and events to over 12,000 members of the community - more than the total number of performances presented by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra - most of which were free. This represents one part only of its extensive body of work, and it alone represents a considerable achievement for such a small administrative group. The Peter Grant report of 2006 was commissioned by the Commonwealth Government. To dismiss this independent report because it came to the conclusion that ANAM was working well and, if anything, required significant increased funding to expand its programs, says more about your correspondent than it does about the Academy or the report. The only losses which the Academy has ever registered have been the result of the phasing of grant payments, and consequently covered in adjacent years. Thank you for your on-going support of the Academy and its valuable work. Nick Bailey Acting General Manager Australian National Academy of Music
Posted on 2008-12-05 01:52:16 GMT
There was a report prepared in mid 2006, which examined the financial viability and the effectiveness of the ANAM program. Fundamentally with 40 students at that time and 12 administrative staff(faculty staff not included)the organisation was top heavy with administrators. The organisation still has 12 administrative staff albeit with 55 students. What other organisation has public funding for such excessive administrative 'support'? The minister's decision was based on a sound report that was wilfully ignored by the previous government. The December 2006 report to which you refer was prepared by ANAM supporters and as such cannot be regarded as independent advice. Those protesting about the closure of the academy clearly do not know of the wanton waste of public funds on administration at ANAM, compounded by such poor management of the funding that ANAM ended up $300,000 in debt! I suggest that those who are protesting about the closure of ANAM read the article in the 'Australian' at http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,24582994-16947,00.html. The account there is vastly more informative than anything originating in Melbourne.
Posted on 2008-12-03 11:04:54 GMT
Why has the Age not mentioned you or the delegation who saw Garret?
Posted by Danke Shane on 2008-11-29 08:49:43 GMT
Good on you, Michael. This is an appalling decision. I have been following it closely. It is an example of "penny wise and pound foolish", as they used to say when I was a child. Heather
Posted by heather.abramson@bigpond.com on 2008-11-26 09:38:42 GMT
Michael Yet again you are not averse to standing up & voicing an opinion that reflects that of many who the Federal Minister (incorrectly) believes he is championing by this ill conceived and party political decision. May your voice of reason, sense & sensibility be heard above the rabble of your Labor Party colleagues & may your electorate & the wider community become well aware of the passionate stance you take on a broad range of issues that doesn't just reflect the (already tired & in many cases now ill-conceived) party-line. Continued good luck & success in all your future endeavours & may your next 10 years as the member for Melbourne Ports only prove to be more successful & personally satisfying than your first decade as a loyal & unrelenting champion of your electorate & an articulate spokesman on behalf of all those causes for which you are never afraid to speak out on.
Posted by David of Preston on 2008-11-26 03:27:30 GMT
I see that once again you are fearlessly standing up for what is right. Keep up the good work
Posted
by Anon on 2008-11-26 02:32:41 GMT
Michael Danby says the ABC wont bow the Chinese communist party, click here.
Michael Danby chairs Brisbane hearing on Australia's treatment of migrants with disabilities. Click here.
Click here to read Laurie Oakes's overview of proposals that would cost the taxpayer $500 million dollars to finance political parties, published in The Herald Sun on the 19th of December, 2009.
Michael Danby will be one of the speakers at a short commemoration for the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, to be held at the Elwood Synagogue on the 27th of January. If you would like to attend, please RVSP by emailing alex.devitt@aph.gov.au.
Michael Danby offers special parliamentary hearing to Google on cyber attacks. Click here to read.
Local MP calls for Fitness First to show community spirit. Click here
Click here to read Michael Danby's endorsement of re-listing terrorist organisations and his expression of astonishment at the submission by the federation of community legal centres (VIC) who had called for the de-listing of Hamas.
Click here to read the speech delivered by Governor-General Bryce on Sir Zelman Cowen's 90th Birthday.
Chairman of parliament's environment commitee, Jenny George, produced this ground breaking report into coastal erosion. Click here to read the report, and Michael's speech about the findings here.
Julie Bishop makes a desperate and out of context attack on Michael Danby. Click here
Michael Danby endorses Dr Gerard Henderson's description of the recent terrorism convictions and the effective pattern of trials in dealing with would-be participants in terrorism acts in Australia. Click here.
Michael Danby has called the Liberal Party's recent outburst on Border Security nonsense. Follow the link to see Minister for Immigration & Citizenship, Chris Evans, discuss the recent influx of asylum seekers on Lateline (October 14), click here, or more recently the Minister's interview on the 7.30 Report on the 21st of October. Click here
Who was William Cooper & why we should all know, click here
What's going on at the ABC? ABC TV's reporter Ben Knight is producing some context.... Click here
Michael Danby delivered a detailed speech on New Matilda and Crikey.com declaring them the ‘dark and ugly recesses of the internet' . Mr Danby called on Crikey owner Eric Beecher to explain his publications failure to moderate racist comments. Click here.
Chair of the Parliamentary Migration Committee Michael Danby spoke to ABC News Breakfast about the Committee's new report into immigration detention, click here
Michael Danby isn't just supportive of his own community, he is one of few MPs with the courage to question Beijing on its treatment of minority groups. Says a cover story of the Aust. Jewish News. Click here
Michael Danby joined the Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O'connor to announce funding for Capital Upgrades of Jewish school security. Click here
An All party delegation to India consisting of 6 mps had their outrage towards the recent attacks on Indian students reported in the Economic Times (of India). Click here
Michael Danby promoted the Harmony Day Walk in the Hindustan Times on the 4th of July Click here and on the same day the Sunday Tribune (of Bangalore) newspaper reported on the delegations outcry at the attacks on Indian Students Click here
25 May 2009: Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration Michael Danby, today tabled the 2nd of the Committee's reports into immigration detention. For Michael's tabling speech please click here. Please click here for the media release.
Local area receives Budget millions. Please click here for information on the benefits Melbourne Ports is receiving in the 2009-10 Budget.For a macro explanation of the budget, please see this interview with Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner and this interview with Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Local small businesses were winners in this year's budget. There will be an increase and extension of the Small Business and General Business Tax Break. For more information please see these links to Media Releases from the Minister for Small Business Craig Emerson.
Media Release 1 Media Release 2
The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd blasted Iran's role in undermining the anti racism essence of last week's UN conference, which had the stated objective of opposing bigotry. Click here
Michael Danby argues that it is possible that Australia's bid to win one of the non permanent seats on the UN Security Council will fail because of Australia's principled withdrawal from the chaotic Durban 2 Conference. Click here
New Electoral Commissioner Ed Killesteyn explained that 1.2 million Australians are not enrolled to vote, to see his dramatic opening statement to the Electoral Matters Committee click here.
Chinese Ambassador ticks off Member for Melbourne Ports. Danby welcomes his felicitous response: SMH article, Canberra Times articleForeign Minister defends Danby's appearance at rally click here
Michael Danby today announced that 28 local schools in Melbourne Ports will receive $4 million for minor infrastructure and refurbishment projects under Round One of the National School Pride (NSP) program. Click here
Pauline Hanson drops her bundle appearing on Today Tonight (channel 7) and walks out on an interview over questions about the $200 000 bonus she received, for receiving 4% of the Queensland Senate vote ($2.10 per voter) at the 2007 election click here. To read how Michael Danby exposed her earlier funding rort Click here
The Joint Committee on Migration established a new paradigm for the humane but rational treatment of asylum seekers. Click here.
Liberal Opportunism in Terror Convictions
The successful conviction of Benbrika and 5 of his associates should be marked as a positive achievement in the lawful pursuit of terrorists (or would be terrorists) (click here). This is particularly so given the recent failed trials in the United States and the United Kingdom. It therefore disappointing that the Opposition sought to turn this successful development in the anti-terrorist struggle into a partisan point scoring.
I outline these arguments in a speech to parliament a few hours ago (click here).
Defamation Bigotry and Censorship
Mr Danby responded today in the House of Representatives to malicious claims made by "The Age" on the 21st of June. He reminded the public of their record of Defamation, Bigotry and Censorship under Editor Andrew Jaspan. The speech was made this morning hours before Jaspan was sacked. Click here.
Even the conservative Asian Wall Street Journal editorial page was forced to concede that Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard made a strong and positive impression in an address to key American policy makers in Washington. To read her speech please click here.
Read what the Asian Wall Street Journal commissioned but didn't publish.... Click here
Clive James, one of Australia's most celebrated expatriates penned the following poem in the Australian Literary Review. September 7 2007
