Tina Arena appointed to peak arts body
Tina Arena has been appointed to the Australia Council. Photo: Getty
Scott Morrison’s favourite singer Tina Arena has been appointed a board member of the Australia Council for three years.
Arena is the only Australian artist to have earned a gold or platinum record for original album releases in every decade since the 1970s.
The council is the federal government’s principal arts funding body.
Arts Minister Mitch Fifield is confident Arena will be a welcome influence.
“The high-profile singer-songwriter, musician and musical theatre actor brings significant experience as an artist to the board,” he said on Friday.
The recently-retired managing director of Channel Seven Perth, Mario D’Orazio, has also been appointed to the board. Deputy chair Lee-Ann Tjunypa Buckskin will retain her post.
Board members are paid $32,880 each year, while the deputy chair will earn $44,840.
The Prime Minister has not been shy in recent years about his fondness for Arena’s music.
“My interest is unhealthy, bordering on unhealthy, but she’s great,” he told a local radio station in Perth in October.
Labor senator Penny Wong said she thought Arena’s appointment was “great”.
“She’s obviously a very popular Australian artist,” she said.