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Protect our culture from the FTA, urges AFC chief
The Australian Government should ensure any Free Trade Agreement (FTA) made with the United States is fair and balanced in regard to culture, asserted cultural industry representatives in Canberra recently. At an event hosted by the Australia Council and the Australian Film Commission (AFC), attended by politicians from both houses of Parliament and from all political parties, Australian Film Commission Chief Executive, Kim Dalton, and Australia Council Chief Executive, Jennifer Bott, called for cultural exemptions in a FTA with the United States. ‘It is critically important that the Government retains its ability to develop and implement industry support measures as it sees fit,’ Dalton said. ‘It’s not just about keeping the current package of measures as they stand. It’s about having the flexibility to adapt to change without the restriction of having our hands tied by a Free Trade Agreement.’ Dalton also emphasised that the Australian cultural industry was open to input from other cultures around the world. ‘We believe in an Australia that is open to foreign input, ideas and expression and in a culture that is dynamic and adaptive,’ he said. For further information, visit the Australia Council, HERE.
Show latest news, more from August 2003.
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