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George Brandis in 2014: instigator of the Catalyst mess. Lukas Coch

The end of Catalyst: four ironies

An oft-occurring phrase in Peter Temple’s award-willing crime novel, Truth, is “moving on”. Characters say it when they want to change the subject, or there doesn’t seem much more to say about a subject…
Performers protesting the Brandis decision outside the Sydney Opera House in 2015. Paul Miller/AAP

After the Catalyst arts funding mess, many questions remain

The arts sector lobbied hard against the Catalyst funding model, which the ALP had labelled ‘a ministerial slush fund’. But will the money returned to the Australia Council go to those who need it?
More than 50 arts training programs across the nation, including circus, may no longer be supported by the federal government. Julian Smith/AAP

Arts training is an essential part of an innovative nation

The past two years have not been happy ones for the arts sector in Australia. It all began in early 2014 with federal Ministers Brandis and Turnbull telling artists at the Sydney Biennale that they were…
Hydrogen fueling stations like this could become more common if materials scientists and other researchers keep pushing for new breakthroughs. fueling station photo via shutterstock.com

Finding better ways to get hydrogen fuel from water

Modifying chemicals’ molecular properties can make ‘splitting’ hydrogen from water more efficient.
Sean Davis

Global journalism needs global ethics

There’s an old saying in journalism: “All news is local”. It means that news, wherever it comes from, needs to engage the interest of its local audience if it is to succeed. But read today’s paper, or…
Deep funding cuts will affect Australia’s entire arts ecology. Ekke

Carnage in the arts: experts respond to the Australia Council cuts

A ‘mortal blow’ to the South Australian theatre scene. ‘Inexplicable’ cuts to centres for photography in two states. The Australia Council’s latest funding decisions have left the arts sector reeling and are evidence of a government indifferent to culture.
Artist-run initiatives are a major creative driver in Australia’s art environment. Lesley Giovanelli 'Continental Drift' Articulate project space 2015/Silversalt photography

Small is beautiful: artist-run collectives count, but they’re facing death by a thousand cuts

Small arts organisations are facing savage cuts in May. These vibrant collectives are a vital part of the Australian art ecology, and deserve better than slow strangulation.
Lipitor is widely prescribed for cholesterol, but incorrect negative reports have seen its use decline slightly in Australia. from www.shutterstock.com.au

Weekly Dose: Lipitor, the highest-selling drug of all time

Lipitor was approved by the government in 1997, and while under patent protection it was the highest-selling drug of all time with worldwide sales of more than US$12 billion a year.
The BCA was probably doomed the moment Tony Abbott announced its creation out of Australia Council funds. Nastya Shershneva

Short shelf life: the Book Council of Australia is stuffed back on the rack

The Book Council of Australia – announced by Tony Abbott just over a year ago – was today scrapped. But we still need a body to advocate for literature and to advise government on policy settings.
Following a sustained and vocal campaign by the arts sector, the National Program for Excellence in the Arts has been canned. AAP Image/Alan Porritt

Out with the NPEA, in with Catalyst: expert response

Following a sustained and vocal campaign by the arts sector, the controversial National Program for Excellence in the Arts has been rethought and renamed. Should we be celebrating or concerned?

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