The statement is clearly targeted at the Biennale, which last week split with its founding sponsor Transfield Holdings, after boycotts and protests by artists because Transfield Holdings in a major shareholder in Transfield Services, which manages asylum seeker detention centres.
In a letter sent to Australia Council for the Arts Chairman, Rupert Myer, Brandis has asked that a policy be formulated to prevent arts organisations knocking back funding for political reasons. ”If the Sydney Biennale doesn’t need Transfield’s money, why should they be asking for ours?’ he said in the letter, the full text of which is available on ArtsHub.
