j AUSTKALIA p Y
FOR MEDIA SUNDAY, 31 MAY, 1981
ADDRESS TO NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DRAMATIC ARTS
DINNER, SYDNEY
This I think is the unfairest night of all. How can a rank
amateur be asked possibly to get up and address you. You have
had all the advantages. You have been through that terrible
place with all those frightful facilities, and you are all
professionals. But I am just the amateur; an amateur from the
country, from the bush. To have to speak in front of those
who really know how Tamie suggested that I get a few quick
lessons from Kate at dinner. I thought that I have got too
set in my ways and that I needed more than a few quick lessons
at dinner.
When I saw that film, it reminded me rather of our Party Room.
That is that they were crowded in together, because we use our
Party Room for all sorts of purposes too. But then a year or
so ago the Parliament decided that it should get a new Party
Room and they were going to have a new building for that, so I
suppose it would-be rather unfair to insist that you continue
to use your old one.
That film, I think, takes an enormous risk; the one we have
just seen. It was done by the A. B. C. and they are very expert
and very professional. I just wonder whether they had some
subterranean reasons: did they really think that this was going
to help NIDA get that extra money or did they really think that
as a result of that film, the Government would take the money
away from NIDA and give it to the because they made it
quite plain that in those awful, terrible facilities which are
beyond belief, with no equipment whatsoever, but you have done
all these wonderful things and produced all these great films and
great artists. Now, how you could ever justify a new building;
I just want it written down, I just want those cast-iron guarantees
for the 10 and 20 years ahead after this new building is completed.
How are you going to give me those guarantees so that we know that
you will take Australia's reputation that much higher than it is
right at this very time. That I suppose is going to be a challenge
for those in charge of the school, those who will go through it,
those who will be producing our plays and writing our plays and
producing Australia's films.
There is a bit of a sore point about films right at this moment.
If I could tell you how it all began. ]' efore the last election I
wasr being made up for one of tho-se terrible commercials that
politicians try to do but which they never should. We had not
finalised the policy speech for the last electi. on at this time.
JThio girl who was making me up had done it on a number of occasions
and always at election times because she had always been successful.
That is the way you Xwin elections; you have the right make-up.
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But I just said, how is she going and what was happening.
She said ' no good at all'. ' Why not'? Because she had just
had 16 films cancelled. I think she used to contract doing
her make-up work to'fihns and whatever. John Howard, in his
keenness to stop all those terrible tax-avoiding cheats, had
caught up with scheme which had been used quite successfully to
fund Australian films. I thought, well that is no good, I had
better really find out what the score is because we want
Australia's films to go on being made, with a high reputation
right around the world. Then, Bob Ellicott, as a result of that,
proposed policies which we adopt. Then everyone advised us that
there were going to be people who will do things that they
should not and that that would discredit the scheme. As a result,
some modifications were made, and as a result of that there are
some people in trouble; and as a result of that John Howard has
had discussions over this last weekend. As a result of that we
will have another discussion tomorrow morning or on Tuesday morniAg.
There is no promise in that except the consciousness of a problem,
and also a very firm desire to make sure that the professionals
in this room are to be able to go on doing great things for
themselves, but for Australia also.
I do not really know what to say about the Razor Gang, because
before I came along here tonight, I said " what am I allowed to
say about NIDA". We promised $ 3 million but we did not specifically
say when we were going to give the money. We could keep that
promiise after the election in the year 2001 or something or other.
But Wal Fife has told me that you would not be able to start
building under two or three or four months anyway. He assured me
he believes that he can have all the necessary support
aVv ailab le to enable you to start building when you want to start
building. I put it that way because John Howard rather frightens
me, but I am sure he does not frighten Wal Fife, so he would
expect the funds.
There is one other thincg which I have discussed with both Ministers
concerned, and that does involve the future recurrent funding
for the school, for NIDA. Some sort of compromise I think has
been reached. I will give you the good news first and the bad news
after. The specific responsibility of NIDA will be transferred
to Home Affairs and the Environment, where I think it ought to be.
Theiib ad news is that unofficially and informally the Tertiary
Education Cominission will still be asked to give advice on the level
of recurrent funding. That does not necessarily mean that advice
w. ill be fo. lowd, but it does mean it will be sought. If you can
co0 on co-opera ing with the ABC to produce films like the one you
just did, I suppose you will not have any trouble with the Tertiary
Eciucation Comrnui. ssion either..
There is only one other thing " that I would like to say. I suppose
in many ways my Government over the years has got the name or I
hope it has for trying to run the economy better. But that is
not an end in itself. It is only the start. We try and run an
economy betL.. r so people can look after their own affairs; so
that the company you have asked along here tonight can rake profits
and there coniiribute to that miillion-dollar appeal. do not think
lthcy will. cont-ribute very much if they are not making proLfii-s. They
mni. giht, but they would be strange sorts of companies I think if they
r. idC. But a. lso so thati the nation will have resources to do the thing.
tlhat: it needs to do and wants to do wvell and more effec: tively than
: it otherwise could; and supporting the National InsLi. lute of / 3
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Dramatic Arts, supporting the Australian " iBallet, the Australian
Opera, supporting the arts in general. terms through the Australia
Council, and so many other things which Australians can do well
whether it is medical research or marine science or whatever.
Without resources, without managing an economy well, we are not
going to be able to do any of these things. Doing that, is just
the first thing, but the end result is so that we can all build
a better Australia, but more particularly so that Australians
with talents, with energies, with initiative, with imagination'
and heart can go about doinfg the things they. want to, to create--
a better society and to provide some fulfillment to themselves
and to give enjoyment to their fellow Australians.
That, in my unprofessional and amateurish way, is perhaps my
understanding of what your profession is about. It gives great
* pleasure to many tens of thousands of people. But it also gives
pride; pride in what Australians can perform in a way which is
recognised around the world as of world quality and better than
most. Good fortune to all of you. 000---