Another parliamentary inquiry into the arts, or, who gives a f*ck about your opinion?

Now is the time to act and make your opinions about arts and culture matter! The Minister for Communications, Paul Fletcher has initiated an inquiry into Australia’s creative and cultural industries and institutions. On the ministerial agenda is:  the benefits offered by the arts industry and our cultural institutions; what are the best mechanisms for policy between layers of government; the impact of COVID-19 on the arts; and increasing access and opportunities through innovation and digitisation.

Anyone can make a submission. I can’t stress this enough – this means you – no matter how quiet, insignificant, or previously unheard you may feel. If you have lots of thoughts about these matters don’t leave it up to others to take action. No-one else knows your experience like you do. This is a way to instigate action and play an active role in yielding improvements  for us all.

Eliza Dolly (Vulcana Circus) rehearsing for Tipping Point. Image: Phil Turnbull.
Cover image: The Inquisition of the Big Bad Wolf, FenLan Photography

Making a submission to a Parliamentary Inquiry is a prime chance to contribute to what becomes public opinion and influences political conversation at government level. You can write a letter, short document, substantial paper, fill out a survey, or put your thoughts into audio visual format. A submission gives us the chance to share unique perspectives, valid lived experience, and visions for a better future. Furthermore, the addition of every voice contributes to informing more accurate conjecture of public opinion.

Information shared can be referred to and quoted in a report compiled by the parliamentary committee members. These members circulate in the political sphere and use this insight to influence policy and motivate government action to bring about change.

Public opinion is a significant force in the political realm. And whilst public opinion may not always markedly influence the nitty gritty details of public policy, it certainly shapes the boundaries that limit it. Like an artist whose prior experience and choice of tools influence the sculpting of a block of clay into something more meaningful, in Australia, a democratic nation, public opinion shapes government action to fashion public policy. Consider marriage equality – when public opinion reached a critical level it pushed the government to shift the boundaries.

Let’s get real though, it’s not everybody’s personal opinions that influence public policy, public opinion does, and this gets deduced from the occurrence of similar opinions gathered from the views put forward. It’s the majority view from what’s visible on a public issue. If certain views lack representation, then what gets determined as ‘public opinion’ may be crucially misrepresentative. Subsequently, the formation of policy becomes limited because the scope of views and circumstances accounted for are incomplete.

Image: Hiraeth | Moment of Inertia. Image supplied.

For a parliamentary submission to be effective it must be persuasive. An influential argument will have relevancy to others. Pouring out opinion after opinion or focusing solely on your own experience without contextualising or offering solutions might be cathartic, (especially given the frustration of continually striving to convince others of things that seem so obvious!) but if it’s not constructive to the Terms of Reference it’s likely to be considered irrelevant and get dismissed. 

ArtsHub has published a helpful list of 8 arguments to include in your submission, compiled by Dr Jackie Bailey. She also offers language to help articulate those arguments in terms relevant to the Federal Government.

Articulating your thoughts coherently can be difficult when there’s much to be said, and the subject is close to your heart. The desire for your view to be heard and have impact can be debilitating. If that’s the case, consider this a part of activating your voice and having impact. Decide to start somewhere, anywhere, there’s always room for improvement and a good way to learn to improve is by doing. (Ahh, your submission is already having a positive impact!).

An approach I’ve found useful is to vent first without interrupting thoughts by censoring. Or put down a list of dot points of anything that comes to mind in relation to the Terms of Reference – whether they’re worthwhile including or not. Note the matters that surface that are most important, or that you feel best positioned to address. Consider what evidence/experience exists that provides rationale for any opinions on the matters you’ve noted. Identify problems and seek to consider what caused them. Consider opportunities that present potential for change or improvement in relation to these issues. Do ideas, research, relevant examples exist that suggest or verify effective or more effective solutions to address the matters identified? If not, what could be done to find solutions?

Audiences at 2015' Melt Festival enjoy the Vulcana Circus cabaret at Brisbane Powerhouse (in a time before social distancing…) Image: Gawky Media.

This inquiry covers a lot of ground. You don’t have to address everything. You can encourage others to make submissions too. Approach others who would offer something pertinent to the inquiry and further contextualise or support the arguments you’re making.

This submission isn’t the only time to empower your voice. Circulate in government politics: contact your local representative; write or sign a petition; write a Letter to the Editor or phone in to talkback radio; join a political party; join or start a lobby group; attend or organise a rally; attend local council meetings; and be an informed voter.

Proposing informed solutions can empower others to join your pursuit for a better future. Making change starts with you, but it’s not just about you. By taking action, your opinion does matter.

Submissions to the Parliamentary Inquiry close on October 22nd.