MILLIONS of dollars have been slashed from the ACT’s national attractions according to recently released revised figures from the Federal Government.

The figures, which show the cumulative financial impact of the Government’s efficiency dividend, shows drastic cuts from 2007-08 to 2010-11: The National Gallery – $2.942m – a further $169,000 than estimated in July; The National Library – $3.964m – a further $233,000 than estimated in July; The National Film and Sound Archive – $1.449m – a further $492,000 than estimated in July; and the National Archives of Australia – $4.855m – a further $188,000 than estimated in July.

“Altogether, this rips more than an extra million dollars from the already cash-strapped national institutions based in Canberra,” Senator Gary Humphries said.

“The revised figures are further evidence that the Rudd-Gillard Government’s fictitious commitment to ‘protect smaller agencies’ from the efficiency dividend was a swindle.

“The cumulative impact of the Government’s efficiency dividend on our national institutions has ripped further funding from their already depleted budgets.

“The Government’s reckless spending has left the institutions struggling to do their core jobs with reduced budgets.

“This Labor Government takes Canberra for granted.  It’s oblivious to the significant contributions these national institutions make to the Australian community.

“It’s just another clear indication that the efficiency dividend is negatively affecting the national capital, and Canberra’s Labor MPs continue sit back, watch and do nothing.”

[box] Advice provided in July 2011 on the estimated impact of the efficiency dividend (ED) reflected full year estimates from 2007-08. This advice has been updated to reflect the actual pro rata application of the ED from Additional Estimates in 2007-08.

National Gallery of Australia

2007/08 $754,000
2008/09 $ 1,376,000
2009/10 $399,000
2010/11 $413,000

National Library of Australia

2007/08 $912,000
2008/09 $1,711,000
2009/10 $665,000
2010/11 $676,000

National Film and Sound Archive of Australia

2007/08 –
2008/09 $825,000
2009/10 $312,000
2010/11 $312,000

National Archives of Australia

2007/08 $1,187,000
2008/09 $2,183,000
2009/10 $788,000
2010/11 $697,000 [/box]