THE GREENS’ INFORMATION REQUEST REVEALS BEHINDTHE-SCENES FUNDING SUPPORT
In 2013, documents4 obtained under the Government Information (Public Access) or GIPA Act revealed that: •
In December 2012, an Options Paper was developed at the request of the Deputy Director- General of Trade and Investment NSW and submitted to the Minister for Arts, but there has still been no action from the current Government.
•
Of the MPs who have written to the Arts Minister requesting more funding for libraries, 55% are from the National Party – the Government is even being lobbied by its own members!
• At least 34 separate councils from across NSW have written to the Minister, advocating for greater state funding of libraries. •
Many of the MPs and councils lobbying for library funding reform come from areas where the number of homes without an internet connection is relatively high – providing access to services for those who need it is a key reason to invest in libraries.
4 View the documents at: www.janbarham.org.au/libraries
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