November 29, 2005: Arts Sector Calls for Government to Take its Own Advice
The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) urgently calls on the Prime Minister, Attorney General and all of Government to heed the findings of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee Inquiry into the Anti-Terrorism (No. 2) Bill 2005 and remove the Sedition clause entirely from the proposed legislation.
NAVA also strongly urges the Government to adopt the Senate Committee’s recommendation that the Australian Law Reform Commission conduct a public inquiry into the appropriate legislative vehicle for addressing the issue of incitement to terrorism. More.
January 27, 2006: When the flag is a burning censorship question.
In January 2006, Footscray police seized Melbourne artist Azlan McLennan's artwork, “Proudly unAustralian” from a billboard belonging to the Trocadero Art Space gallery. Police claimed that they received "numerous complaints from the community." The nature of these complaints was not revealed and eventually no charge was laid. Tamara Winikoff, Executive Director of NAVA said “The grounds for censorship of artists in Australia has become a really hot issue, in light of the new sedition clause in the Anti-Terrorism legislation rushed through parliament just before Xmas”. More.
June 15, 2006: Artists Agree “Sedition” Must Go
The recommendations in the just released Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC)’s discussion paper that “Sedition” law should be removed from the statute books, was enthusiastically welcomed today by the National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA), the peak body representing the Australian visual arts and craft sector.
Tamara Winikoff, Executive Director of NAVA said today, “There is a long history of misuse of sedition law to quell legitimate critique and dissident opinion critical of governments in many countries, including Australia. This is a strong indicator that it has no place in a democracy where freedom of expression should be a respected right for artists and all responsible citizens. NAVA will be responding accordingly to the ALRC’s discussion paper”. More.
