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The Hon Heidi Victoria MP
Minister for the Arts, Women's Affairs, and Consumer Affairs
Hosted by:
September 15, 2014 @ 10:30 pm - September 16, 2014 @ 12:00 am
“If I try to be like them, who will be like me?”
Melbourne is unique. We are ambitious and strategic and restless.
– Heidi Victoria MP
The Government’s priorities for the arts in Victoria and the three-way partnership between the arts, government and business.
Ms Victoria was appointed Minister for the Arts, Women’s Affairs and Consumer Affairs for Victoria in March 2013. Prior to this, she fulfilled the role of Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, advising on all matters relating to the arts portfolio.
Ms Victoria has been a strong advocate for the Victorian arts sector, with Melbourne recognised as Australia’s most vibrant arts capital.
Ms Victoria’s leadership of the arts has seen a renewed emphasis on international engagement, particularly with Asia and countries of strategic and economic interest to Australia; Melbourne designated a UNESCO City of Literature; and an unprecedented level of State budget funding to support the growth of all parts of the sector.
Her portfolio encompasses eight significant state-owned agencies, including the:
· State Library of Victoria, Australia’s first public library and one of the first free libraries in the world;
· Arts Centre Melbourne, Australia’s largest and busiest performing arts complex;
· National Gallery of Victoria, Australia’s most comprehensive and valuable art collection; and
· Australian Centre for the Moving Image(ACMI), the highest-attended film/moving-image centre, and 44th highest attended art gallery or museum, in the world.
As Minister for Women’s Affairs, Ms Victoria recognises the essential contribution of women to Victoria’s growing economy and has supported them to be leaders in business, government and community.
As Minister for Consumer Affairs, Ms Victoria has overseen the State's consumer affairs regulator become an agile and responsive regulator that protects the rights of consumers, while also creating a competitive and fair marketplace for businesses.