Federal budget to boost funds for cultural institutions
Australia's most treasured cultural centres will receive a $535 million boost in the federal budget, after being allowed to fall into a "shocking state of disrepair".
Nine National Collecting Institutions, which include the Museum of Australian Democracy and the National Gallery of Australia, will get the funding over the next four years.
They house about 54 million objects and artefacts worth more than $9 billion.
The commitment guarantees ongoing, indexed funding to ensure urgent safety repairs can take place.
Labor has accused the former coalition government of neglecting the cultural icons over the previous decade.
Photos emerged last month showing the National Gallery was using buckets and towels to mop up water leaking from the roof.
The government has vowed it will be watching future capital works at the institutions to make sure the buildings get the repairs they need.
The funding forms part of the government's national cultural policy in supporting Australia to have "strong cultural infrastructure".
The announcement follows $33 million being set aside in this year's budget for the National Library of Australia to shore up the Trove collection of digitised stories and artefacts.
Arts Minister Tony Burke said the funding would ensure people could visit the institutions and enjoy them without questioning their structural integrity.
"It is a disgrace that the former coalition government allowed these institutions to fall into such a shocking state of disrepair," he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he wanted all Australians to be able to visit the institutions for generations to come.
"These are special places and we should be proud of them - they preserve, protect and celebrate Australia's stories and history," he said.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, who is also an ACT senator, described the institutions as not only custodians of art, literature and culture but the gateway to attracting visitors to Canberra.
