Interference in the National Museum puts Australian culture under siege

According to the draft response: "The review panel's ambitions for the Museum are not achievable with the available resources and existing constraints. The Museum is funded according to option C of the Funding Review, 2002-2003. Under this option, resources allow for permanent galleries to be changed only to meet loan, conservation and preservation requirements; for one module to be updated every year; and for refurbishment of a gallery every 10 years."

But wait, there's more. All of this has been underpinned by systematic political appointments to the NMA Council. The Council continues to be chaired by former Liberal Party president Tony Staley, who has complied with political instructions to clean out any independent professionals within the Museum.

With the Director's re-appointment unjustifiably shortened, supporters of Ms Casey were soon to follow. Council members Sharon Brown and Ronald Webb, whose terms on the Council expired this month, will not be renewed. It has to be said that these decisions are as blatantly political as the appointments of well known Howard acolytes.

Two weeks ago the extent of this politicisation spilled over into the one forum presented to the parliament to pursue accountability of the Howard government: Senate Estimates.

When specific questions were asked of Ms Casey relating to the partisan Carroll Review recommendations, which will determine the future of the Museum's collections and exhibitions, the Minister unreasonably intervened.

Ms Casey was allowed to express her concern about the Museum being caught in the middle of 'the history wars', but when questioned further about how this impacted on the Museum, she was not permitted to continue answering.

In an outrageous move the Minister gagged the outgoing Director of the National Museum, refusing to allow her to answer any of my questions about the politicisation of both the Museum Council and the Museum itself.

The Howard government members of the Senate estimates committee then threatened to shut down the committee if questioning continued.

Further questioning aimed at the Department then provided an insight into exactly how the Howard government has and will continue to exert its political influence on the Museum, in addition to the appointment of compliant mates to the Council.

Deputy Secretary of the Department, Dr Stretton, is an observer on the Museum Council. It was revealed that departmental officers through Dr Stretton, played an improper role in drafting the Museum Council's response to the Carroll Review. In other words a key mechanism to facilitate the 'Howard-isation' of the Museum was prepared within the Department!

Our cultural agencies must surely be alert and alarmed by now, all the more so because the Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts seemingly has the Minister's permission to participate in this politicisation.

The story of the Museum is frightening and raises serious concerns about the ability of any institution or agency to effectively maintain its cultural independence.

I have outlined the chain of events which have unfolded during the life of the Museum because I think it is a story which needs to be told. Dawn Casey's lament of the Museum being the battle ground for the Howard government's war on culture constitutes a warning for other institutions - a warning to be heeded.

I believe that the ramifications of this government exerting its influence in such a partisan way damages the Museum and is designed to prevent the honest exploration and portrayal of Australian cultural heritage and identity.

The National Museum of Australia has become John Howard's personal story board through which he can make his image of Australia and pretend it is real: an anglo-centric society, patronising of migrants, in denial of indigenous injustice and glory for those who share this narrow, ill-informed conservatism.