After yesterday's cathartic rave, I should say in fairness that there are
people within the Australia Council who are as concerned at these trends
as I am. They are usually the people with the unenviable task of
distributing smaller and smaller bits of cake.
It's not something to be self-interested about, although obviously
self-interest is a factor. Nor, as David pointed out, is it a purely
local phenomenon. What I think _may_ be a purely local phenomenon is the
lack of public protest from artists about these policy shifts, and how
they are being implemented with the minimum of debate; or a "debate" with
the parameters so fixed beforehand that there is no possibility of
dissent. Why aren't people screaming?
Or are they? Is it true that in Australia, no one can hear you scream?
A
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