The curse of the cultural centre continues apace. Much, once suspects to its great relief, the Finocchiaro CLP Government in the Northern Territory has now found an excuse to dump its inherited plans for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia (ATSIAGA) in Mparntwe/Alice Springs.

After the previous ALP government shifted, prevaricated and beat down opposition from the Town Council and local Aboriginal elders, at least they’d hung on to a Commonwealth government’s $80 million offer of matching funds. And they had a site they liked and a design for their Gallery.

But cutting the design in half and sticking it on a car park site doesn’t seem to have gone down that well with the current Federal government. I use the word ‘seem’ for the NT mob has jumped to shut down their ATSIAGA on the grounds that Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Catherine King, has not rushed to assure the NT Minister for Logistics and infrastructure, Bill Yan that his money his safe despite his diminished plans.

“The Finocchiaro CLP Government has been left with no choice but to shut down the Alice Springs project after failing to secure a commitment from NT and Federal Labor”, is Yan’s determination. “This follows repeated attempts to engage Federal Labor to endorse the rescoped gallery in the Alice Springs CBD before the contractual deadline for it to be started in November. The ATSIAGA saga has to end”.

“For nearly ten years Labor strung the people of Central Australia and now us along with promises to see this project delivered, and at every opportunity have continued to deny this $149 million investment,” Yan continued. “I won’t have NT taxpayers burdened with yet another project blowout and potentially significant penalties if it continues to be delayed”. The NT had hoped to get away with a nationally significant, tourist-drawing art centre for just $69m.

Yan claims that the gallery design “had blown out to more than $300 million that we couldn’t afford”.

Now where have we heard that sort of claim before? Why, it was virtually the words of Premier Malinauskas in South Australia, whose inherited plans (from a Liberal government) for the much more significant First Nations Cultural Centre, Tarrkarri were similarly declared way over budget and put on hold at reported cost of $100,000 a year in site maintenance. It’s odd how roads, metro lines, airports, etc can go waaaaay over budget, but that’s OK. The taxpayer will stump up. As they seem likely to in the NT where, according to The Australian, the Darwin ship-lift facility has risen in cost from$100m. to at least $820m. without anyone doubting its necessity.

But anything to do with art or culture has to be bang on budget despite the cost inflation caused by all the other projects. And despite having wasted three years throwing away the line-up of a city-centre site, local Kaurna enthusiasm, an international design, money from the Feds and the massive Indigenous Collection of the SA Museum, Malinauskas has been mysteriously awarded this year’s McKinnon Prize for political leadership at a State level.

Next year it’ll surely go to Leah Finocchiaro!

For she was offering to deliver “a scaled and sensible plan that honours the gallery’s vision and benefits the wider community without breaking our finances. We knew there was a clear economic case for this gallery injecting new life into the CBD and helping Alice Springs rebuild its economy. We cut our cloth to fit the budget”. But did her plans still honour the vision? That question was certainly being asked in Canberra by Malarndirri McCarthy, the local Member for Lingiari and Minister for Aboriginal Australians.

“I am writing to the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Catherine King today and letting her know our decision,” declared Minister Yan. Though he added that “alternative funding options will be considered”. Duh! Meanwhile, of course, there’s still an NT Government decision pending on that pesky art gallery in Darwin !

And, putting the final nail on the ATSIAGA coffin, Ms King, perhaps also relieved, said the federal government was “disappointed” the project would not be going ahead. “The Northern Territory Government has decided to withdraw its funding … This will mean the project is unable to progress”.

Or could it??? On ABC Radio, Minister Malarndirri McCarthywas asked by Alice Springs local Stewart Brash: “Is the idea of a national gallery, which is to highlight Indigenous art, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art in the heart of Australia. Is that idea dead?”.  And she replied: “Well, it certainly is not going to happen on Anzac Oval Stewart, but I will say this to your listeners, Marion Scrymgour is determined to see that art gallery go forward and I am very proud to work with her on any kind of new proposal that she and others may wish to put forward to the Commonwealth”.

Which might go down well with Elder Doris Stuart Kngwarreye, who had long opposed the site of the gallery. Ms Stuart believed that the Anzac Oval site was not an appropriate location given it held a sacred women’s site. “You can’t bring other stories from elsewhere and place them on top of the site … you have to respect them – this is how I was brought up. I knew the Country would come out on top”.

Meanwhile, of course, there’s still an NT Government decision pending on that pesky art gallery in Darwin !

But hope springs eternal in this area, it seems. For, out of the West comes the press release: “Internationally renowned architect firm Hassell has been appointed to develop a concept design for Western Australia’s landmark Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Hassell brings extensive experience and local knowledge to this culturally significant project. Its portfolio includes the award-winning Optus Stadium in Perth and the Laak Boorndap urban garden, a key element of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation”.

But then comes the downer. Money! For, the Croesus State (think gas and mining royalties and GST inbalance) is committing virtually nothing to its proud announcement: “Funding of $104 million has been committed to the project to date – $52 million from the Cook Government and $52 million from the Federal Government”. Are we three years away from yet another scrapped cultural project? For, sadly, Hassall was also associated with the unbuilt plans for a Ngurra Cultural Centre in Canberra.

Not if the PRs are to be believed: “Located on Whadjuk Noongar Country overlooking the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River), the State-wide centre is envisioned as an immersive cultural hub that will showcase Aboriginal creativity through art, dance, language, song, and storytelling. It will be a key driver for cultural tourism, offering vibrant events and connecting locals, interstate and international visitors with local community, artists, and creatives”. But no mention of content. Could the University of WA’s Berndt Museum Collection be in the government’s eyes?

For, once again, like Adelaide, the design team will collaborate with Aboriginal communities and key stakeholders to develop a concept that is informed by First Nations knowledge, storytelling, and connection to Country. To achieve this, the government has appointed Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna, currently Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and a member of the Gnardumun Aboriginal Corporation, and former WA Treasurer and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt as co-Chairs of the Aboriginal Cultural Centre implementation group.