INTERFERENCE
If I denied the Holocaust, I would deserve the odium that would be heaped
on me. The Holocaust is a fact, it occurred within our living memory. When
the Howard government through the Arts Minister Rod Kemp establishes a
review panel, appoints its members and sets the agenda to review the
content and relevance of the National Museum of Australia's exhibitions and
programs, especially its indigenous exhibits and programs, there is barely
a whisper of protest.
The Howard government has consistently through its legislation, denied this
country's indigenous past. Its latest attempt to commit historical genocide
and re-write history should be vigorously resisted. When governments become
involved in the historical debate and use their considerable resources to
support one side of an argument, it's time that questions were asked about
their motives.
This latest attempt to re-write the history books and deny this country's
past, will have long term ramifications for all of us. The ability of
curators in State funded museums and art galleries to have the power
without government interference to independently set up exhibits and
programs is a cornerstone of the artistic freedom of expression that is
fundamental in a society that calls itself democratic.
The establishment of an indigenous gallery in the National Museum of
Australia is enshrined in the 1980 National Museum Act. An act, that was
passed to redress the historical genocide that had occurred when this
countryıs history was discussed. Governments should stay at arms length
from the day to day workings of art galleries and museums. If they don't,
we run the very real risk of seeing the National Museum of Australia set up
a permanent exhibition about John Howard in Canberra, that rivals the
exhibition of Kim il Sung, the "great and dear" leader in Pyongyang, North
Korea.
