The Albanese Federal Labor Government’s first Budget for the arts has been received as disappointing, despite a handful of immediate measures to support live performance, restore funding to the ABC and shore up skills training.

The government has stumped up $22 million in 2022-23 to establish a Live Performance Support Fund for eligible event organisers impacted by COVID-19, and provided the national broadcaster with an additional $83.7 million over four years to return funding lost due to the former Coalition government’s indexation freeze.

Australian Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke. Photo supplied

The Arts Minister, Tony Burke, said the arts sector was “centre stage” during the Budget, promising “future funding decisions for the sector will be set out in the new National Cultural Policy, which will be delivered before the end of the year”.

But commentators criticised the Budget as heavy on rhetoric and light-on in long-term support. 

In the Arts portfolio forward estimates document released last night, funding is projected to decline from $860 million in 2022–23 to $771 million in 2023-24 under forward estimates, indicating the continuation...