This is right in line with the NSW Ministry of Arts deciding that grant recipients should be kept anonymous to preserve their 'privacy'. It's commonplace now that public bodies believe they have the right to conceal all their deliberations and decisions from the taxpayers who fund them. This represents the privatisation - or perhaps the cronyisation - of the public sphere.
Isn't this just what decline and fall looks like? Corruption, redaction and a general malaise of entropic drain circling until everyone sort of shrugs their shoulders and gives up. It started in the 1970s with the destruction of marvellous Melbourne and has just continued at a steady pace, although the slope may be starting to get steeper.
I'm surprised the State Library has lasted this long to be honest. Hopefully we can have some sort of revitalisation movement, but enough people have to actually care for this to happen.
Oh look out when you're being 'refreshed'. That was word of choice here in Scarborough Beach WA when the Barnett govt decided we were a state (you guessed it) icon, and commandeered governance from the local Council to an unelected Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority. (Yes, it was and continues to be disastrous.) And anyway, why does a State Library need to amplify its voice nationally and internationally?
Visited the library yesterday for a "State Library Victoria Unlocked: A Guided Tour Before the Doors Open", albeit from those redacted FOI pages it appears that at the higher levels of the library's management, some of the doors appear to be still largely locked. An excellent tour given by passionate staff. Tour finished and off for a coffee and lunch at Mr Tulks. Do that digitally!
Keep it up, Gideon. Our memory institutions regrettably hide behind secrecy too much. Even with a Labor government that promised to clean up the 'jobs for mates' gravy train in board appointments, nothing much has changed, and board minutes are still typically secret. What would be truly revolutionary would be for Angus Taylor's revamped Liberals to (a) come up with an arts policy (b) promise to implement the Briggs review on public appointments (c) support Sophie Scamps bill to permanently change the system. But I'm not holding my breath - when the Coalition was in power in was utterly shameless in rorting the system.
That FOI result is a goddamn disgrace.
You appear to be a lone voice on this subject, Gideon. Please keep writing about it.
This is right in line with the NSW Ministry of Arts deciding that grant recipients should be kept anonymous to preserve their 'privacy'. It's commonplace now that public bodies believe they have the right to conceal all their deliberations and decisions from the taxpayers who fund them. This represents the privatisation - or perhaps the cronyisation - of the public sphere.
Why isn’t the rest of the media writing about this? Anyway, keep going.
Great stuff, Gideon. Illuminating as always. You’re the Stephen Mayne of the bibliothecal world 🙂
So much redacted - are they are a secret branch of ASIO monitoring everything we read ?
It's all more astonishing than Smith being left out of the T20 team.
Isn't this just what decline and fall looks like? Corruption, redaction and a general malaise of entropic drain circling until everyone sort of shrugs their shoulders and gives up. It started in the 1970s with the destruction of marvellous Melbourne and has just continued at a steady pace, although the slope may be starting to get steeper.
I'm surprised the State Library has lasted this long to be honest. Hopefully we can have some sort of revitalisation movement, but enough people have to actually care for this to happen.
Great work Gideon! "Bonfire of banalities" razing "Corporate Bullshit Bingo" Don Watson would be smiling as are the rest of us..
Oh look out when you're being 'refreshed'. That was word of choice here in Scarborough Beach WA when the Barnett govt decided we were a state (you guessed it) icon, and commandeered governance from the local Council to an unelected Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority. (Yes, it was and continues to be disastrous.) And anyway, why does a State Library need to amplify its voice nationally and internationally?
Visited the library yesterday for a "State Library Victoria Unlocked: A Guided Tour Before the Doors Open", albeit from those redacted FOI pages it appears that at the higher levels of the library's management, some of the doors appear to be still largely locked. An excellent tour given by passionate staff. Tour finished and off for a coffee and lunch at Mr Tulks. Do that digitally!
At the library, Friday. In my old Midnight Oil “head injuries” t-shirt. Library security guy sees me.
LSG: Oh wow, man! Now you’re taking me back! (Points to t-shirt)
Me: Ha! Where to?
LSG: Mate! “Koala sprint”!
Me: “No reaction”!
LSG: Yes! What an ALBUM! “Bus to Bondi”! mate! Taking me right back. Have a great day!
===
I wonder whether CEO applicants could include such an example of how they made a positive difference to an everyday library citizen.
Light is the best disinfectant. Keep shedding light on this great institution Gideon. The people will prevail!
It doesn't appear that the 'In Camera' sessions are the issue, as nearly EVERYTHING in the minutes was redacted.
Keep up the good fight Gideon.
Keep it up, Gideon. Our memory institutions regrettably hide behind secrecy too much. Even with a Labor government that promised to clean up the 'jobs for mates' gravy train in board appointments, nothing much has changed, and board minutes are still typically secret. What would be truly revolutionary would be for Angus Taylor's revamped Liberals to (a) come up with an arts policy (b) promise to implement the Briggs review on public appointments (c) support Sophie Scamps bill to permanently change the system. But I'm not holding my breath - when the Coalition was in power in was utterly shameless in rorting the system.
Why oh why is there not more argument/discussion in Victoria or Melbourne about this?. Is it news in the daily papers or on radio?
Is it news here ? Very doubtful. In Victoria things are.........different.