Hon Michael Mischin questions the McGowan government's perceived devaluation of the Art Gallery of Western Australia Director position due to a reported salary reduction, implying a lack of respect for the arts community. The Minister deflects responsibility to the Public Sector Commissioner.

AnsweredQoN 3Legislative Council
Asked
11 February 2020
Portfolio
Culture and the Arts

QuestionView source ↗

ART GALLERY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA — DIRECTOR
REMUNERATION
3. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Culture and the Arts:
I
refer the minister to an article titled ''The Director's Cut'',
which appeared in The Australian of 23 December 2019, outlining
how the McGowan government has relegated the status of director of the Art
Galley of Western Australia to a relatively junior position by cutting the
salary range offered to the incoming incumbent by almost 30 per cent.
(1) Why does the
McGowan government think so little of the position of the head of the state's
pre-eminent public art gallery that it would effectively relegate its status to
the equivalent of a regional art gallery director rather than a capital city
one?
(2) To what
extent is this effective devaluing of the position indicative of the government's
distain for the arts community?
(3) Does the government believe that a salary in the
range of $202 631 to $235 539 will attract applicants with sufficient
calibre, experience, vision and drive to promote the arts in Western Australia
to a new level?
(4) If yes to (3), why?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(4) The
Art Gallery of Western Australia is a highly valued cultural institution.
However, the determination of the remuneration for the Art Gallery director is
a matter for the Public Sector Commissioner.

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