Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne held a press conference to launch the Greens' initiatives to support the arts, and comment on other issues of the day.

Australian Greens Leader, Christine Milne, attending events at Tasmania's MONA FOMA festival this week, is launching $10 million of initiatives to support the arts and enrich the lives of more Australians.

The initiatives would ensure more young and emerging artists are paid for their work, encourage more innovation in the arts, and support more touring to regional Australia and overseas.

"The arts, from festivals like MONA FOMA and the Sydney Festival, to small art galleries and community theatre companies, bring so much joy to our lives," Senator Milne said.

Australian Greens communications spokesperson Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam welcomed today's announcement that the Australian Music Radio Airplay project would receive $250,000 from the Federal Government, but urged a long-term commitment to the programme.

"The Federal Government must recommit to AMRAP's $600,000 annual budget to keep the project alive. By the Minister's own admission, this $250,000 will only keep the project operating for six months.

The strongest statement yet from Arts Minister, Simon Crean, that he supports lifting the location tax offset to 30% for all films, not just Wolverine, is a sign to the industry and its supporters to campaign even harder for this important move, the Australian Greens said today.

"I had the great pleasure and privilege of a tour around the Wolverine set last week after years of raising the need to lift the location tax offset, and saw first hand the high-skilled jobs in this industry," Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

The Greens have successfully protected Australia's National Gallery, Library, Museum, Film and Sound Archive and other cultural institutions from more jobs and service cuts through a $40 million grant primarily for digitising collections that completely insulates them from the Gillard Government's Efficiency Dividend.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman's cancellation of the Premier's Literary Prize is another example of taking the state backwards in search of a quick buck, the Australian Greens said today.

"The great reputation Queensland has built in the arts, with its excellent galleries, orchestra and literature prize, is a vital part of what has made the state vibrant and innovative," Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said today.

The National Library of Australia will have to be appropriately funded, including exemption from the efficiency dividend, if the Gillard government goes ahead with worthy plans to extend its responsibilities into archiving digital records, the Australian Greens said today.

On the first national SLAM Day, the Australian Greens joined the Save Live Australian Music campaign in its call for a well-thought-out whole of government approach to supporting the live music industry, which brings so much joy to so many Australians, and creates significant economic activity.

"Who among us doesn't love seeing great Australian bands live, and sharing the pride in their achievements around the world?" Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

Additional Estimates - Tuesday 14 February 2011 - Legal and Constitutional Committee - Australian Federal Police

Australian Greens communications spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam will speak at a public forum in Sydney tomorrow evening presented by the Support Assange and WikiLeaks Coalition and supported by the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism.

The aggressive response of governments and corporations to the work of publishing organisation WikiLeaks raises serious questions about the future of the internet, government and corporate accountability, and freedom of speech.