Articles - 23 August 2005

HASS on the Hill

The Art of lobbying

August was a busy month in Canberra, particularly where the Government was concerned. Not only were they debating the sale of Telstra, but they also agreed to meet with over 170 national delegates from the Humanities Arts and Social Sciences.

Craft Australia was there as an outcome of the HASS on the Hill program, to lobby politicians on the economic and cultural value of our combined industries to Australian life. It was certainly a busy day with politicians regularly seen racing from their chambers down the labyrinthine corridors to debate the issues of the day; HASS delegates, armed with the details of their political appointment, searching earnestly for the appropriate door numbers to indicate they were in the right place for their meeting. A colourful mix of life imitating art.

The event began on 16 August with the practicalities of house keeping and ended on 17 August with the expectations of success. The President of CHASS, Professor Malcolm Gillies, gave an informative and entertaining introduction on what the two days may bring and set the positive agenda for the event. Day one was for information and preparation, meeting fellow lobbyists, mastering the persuasive, political, pitch and meeting and catching up with colleagues. Day two was for putting the theory to the test. Both days were interspersed with addresses by politicians who gave earnest presentations about their commitment to the sector and the goals of HASS on the Hill. They included, in order of appearance, Dr Carmen Lawrence, ALP, Mr Barry Haase Liberal, the Hon Dr Brendan Nelson, Minister for Education, Science and Training, Mr Peter Garret, Opposition Parliamentary Secretary for Reconciliation and the Arts and the Hon Rod Kemp, Minister for Sport and the Arts. Needless to say, there was resounding applause.

The craft·design sector was well represented at HASS on the Hill. Craft Australia had 2 delegates attending the event. I was accompanied by Craft Australia Board Director, artist and lecturer Gilbert Riedelbauch. Lynda Dorrington, Executive Director of Form in Western Australia was also present. Between us we met with 5 politicians and their advisors. They included The Hon Rod Kemp, Minister for Arts and Sport, Mr Bernie Ripoll, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations, Mr Anthony Albanese, Shadow Minister for Environment and Heritage and Mr Harry Jenkins, Member for Scullin, Victoria. The lobbying, on all fronts, was very successful in presenting a case about the industry. The key message put by Craft Australia was the dynamic role Australian craft·design is playing in the creative industries and the successes generated by this sector both nationally and internationally.

An outcome of HASS on the Hill in 2004 was the appointment of Professor Iain McCalman to the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, PMSEIC. The Council is the Australian Government's principal source of independent advice on issues in science, engineering and innovation and relevant aspects of education and training. The most significant outcome of their interest in the arts is the recent working group commissioned to look into the role of creativity in the innovation economy. We hope the outcome of our lobbying efforts this year will result in an equally dynamic outcome for the HASS sector in 2006.

Catrina Vignando
General Manager
August 2005

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