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Request of NGA Lindy LEE Ouroboros for $14 M Budget

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Dear Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet,
Nga, commissioned without competition or tenders a work from Lindy LEE Ouroboros for
$14 M. This will be pay by public money from taxpayer.

I asked NGA and the previous and new Minister for the Art to communicate the budget to the public. They refused .

The artist in a recent interview said it was accessible : “People are welcome to see the breakdown of the budget…”

https://www.smh.com.au/national/thank-yo...

Where ?

This project has been decided by NGA without competition or tender who is already surprising.
The communication about the cost, the production, the budget is totally opaque.

The only information’s I get is the artist will be pay between 10-15 % of the budget.
So the artist will be pay from PUBLIC MONEY between 2$M and 3 $M.

As a taxpayer I would like to know what justified this fee.

I am very surprised as a citizen and taxpayer about the process of this decision who is not in Australian standard and values and the fact that I can’t access to the budget.

I did many request through the “right to know” without any answer than send me in Kafaka Castel. Do we have the right to know or is it just an illusion?

https://www.righttoknow.org.au/user/math...

-I would like to know who can guarantee my right to know how my taxes are spend.
-I would like to know who guarantee the good governance of NGA ?
-I would like to know who I have to contact to have my right as an Australian citizen and taxpayer respected.

As responsible of National Budget I ask your government to say how the $14 M will be spent precialsy and why no tenders has been done.

Very best
Mathieu Briand
www.mathieubriand.com

I acknowledge the Yalukit Willam clan of the Boon Wurrung – as the Traditional Owners of Port Phillip, the land on which I work, and I pay my respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their Elders past, present and future.

FOI, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

2 Attachments

OFFICIAL

Dear Mr Briand

 

Thank you for your email regarding acquisitions by the National Gallery of
Australia (NGA).

 

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet's areas of responsibility do
not include the functions of the NGA. More information about the
Department's priority areas is available at [1]Areas of Focus | Department
of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (pmc.gov.au). Responsibility for budget
policy is managed by The Treasury, and more information about Treasury’s
priority areas is available on their website at [2]Budget |
Treasury.gov.au

 

The NGA is a Commonwealth authority established by the National Gallery
Act 1975, and is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
Information about making a Freedom of Information request to the NGA on
the questions raised in your email is available on their website at
[3]Freedom of Information - National Gallery of Australia (nga.gov.au).
The NGA’s acquisition policy is also available online at
[4]acquisitionspolicy2020.0b768e3.pdf (nga.gov.au).

 

I hope this information is of assistance.

 

Kind regards  Robyn

 

Adviser – Freedom of Information

Government Division | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

e. [5][DPMC request email] | [6]www.pmc.gov.au

One National Circuit Barton ACT 2600 | PO Box 6500 CANBERRA ACT 2600

[7]cid:image003.jpg@01D78E24.FF2DAFB0 The
Department
acknowledges
and pays
respect to
the past,
present and
emerging
Elders and
Traditional
Custodians
of Country,
and the
continuation
of cultural,
spiritual
and
educational
practices of
Aboriginal
and Torres
Strait
Islander
peoples.

 

show quoted sections

Dear Robyn
thank you for your message.

NGA refused to pass the budget and the acquisition agreement between them and the artist.
I asked since a year and had contact with them so don t need to send me back to them.

For your information the acquisiion Policy has been modified by it s own director . I invited you to check the modifications..but if i understand NGA is above the law.

If i understood correctly Australian Governement can give public money to NGA but NGA can do what it want with without any obligations. I contacted the ART Minister and also the Treasury who send me back to NGA. Is their any authority above NGA?Is their somone in charge ?
How thats possible ? I am an Australian citizen, i am a taxpayer.
I just ask how this $14 M will be spend and on wich base. Is it wrong? Isn t it my right ?

I thunk Australia were under the rules of law and for good governance.

Perhaps this could also explain why NGA is in a such bad money situation.

I would like to know who i have to contact to have my right respected as NGA, your minister, Tresor Minister , art Minister refused to do so !

Just want to remind you that is $14 M of Public money , spent without tenders without competition and in total opacity. I thunk the governement wanted to change some practices.

I am now waiting for a real answer to a citizen and taxpayer who just ask to have the thing done right with our Public Money.

Very best

Mathieu Briand

Yours sincerely,

Mathieu Briand

We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Mathieu Briand please sign in and let everyone know.