So I understand. But I understand this production he was involved in, The Visitors, was one of the productions, alongside The Seagull, that caused a number of patrons and subscribers to the Sydney Theatre Company to withdraw because, when the production was touring, I believe, the cast at the end of a performance gave a statement on the Israel-Gaza conflict. You’re aware of that?
Senator SHARMA: When the Creative Australia board commenced operation, was there a spill of all the positions and they were all re-advertised? Were some directors taken from the previous Australia Council Board?
Mr Collette : It was half and half, I think, in the end. About half of the existing directors were appointed to the Australia Council Board of Creative Australia, including the chair, who continued, and, from memory, six new directors were also appointed.
Senator SHARMA: What was the process for appointing those six new directors? Was it publicly advertised? Were expressions of interest sought?
Mr Collette : I’d have to take advice on that. These were appointments made by the minister, who appoints the board. I know there is now an expression of interest process for any boards or advisory boards that the minister appoints. I’m just not sure whether that was there at the time.
Senator SHARMA: Did you provide advice to the minister on the six new appointments? Did you provide a shortlist?
Mr Collette : No, we certainly didn’t provide a shortlist, but we had discussions about people who might be suitably qualified.
Senator SHARMA: But you didn’t run a recruitment process seeking expressions of interest?
Mr Collette : No, absolutely not.
Senator SHARMA: You didn’t engage a specialist agency?
Mr Collette : No.
Senator SHARMA: So these appointments were entirely the minister’s, then?
Mr Collette : Yes.
Senator SHARMA: Were you aware of the people the minister was intending to appoint?
Mr Collette : We had discussions about a number of people, very much in the spirit of how qualified they were and what skills these people were going to bring. Obviously we know a lot about the creative industry, so I think the minister welcomed the discussion, but, needless to say, the decisions were entirely his.
Senator SHARMA: There’s one director in particular I want to touch on. That’s Mr Wesley Enoch.
Mr Collette : Yes,
Senator SHARMA: He’s the deputy chair?
Mr Collette : Yes. When Creative Australia was established, he became the deputy chair.
Senator SHARMA: So he was an appointment by the minister, Mr Burke?
Mr Collette : Yes.
Senator SHARMA: I understand he was the producer of the Sydney Theatre Company production, The Visitors. He’d had a role previously with the Sydney Theatre Company?
Mr Collette : Yes. Wesley Enoch is a very distinguished director, playwright and actor. He’s got a long history in the creative workplace and creative industries.
Senator SHARMA: So I understand. But I understand this production he was involved in, The Visitors, was one of the productions, alongside The Seagull, that caused a number of patrons and subscribers to the Sydney Theatre Company to withdraw because, when the production was touring, I believe, the cast at the end of a performance gave a statement on the Israel-Gaza conflict. You’re aware of that?
Mr Collette : Yes, indeed.
Senator SHARMA: I presume the answer is no here, but I think I should ask, just for the sake of it: does the board of Creative Australia take a position on the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Do you seek to?
Mr Collette : The board absolutely does not take a position, and nor do we. It is not our expertise. We are there to invest in the best possible art and artists we can for community and social benefit. We do not take a position on geopolitical conflicts, and the board certainly doesn’t.
Senator SHARMA: Thank you. That’s a welcome statement.