The Government is “broadly supportive” of recommendations, including fines for casting too many non-Australian singers.

The Turnbull Government has released its response to the 118 recommendations of the National Opera Review Final Report, which was delivered to the government last October as reported in Limelight.

The Review, which was chaired by Helen Nugent, was “aimed at promoting the financial viability, artistic vibrancy and accessibility” of Australia’s four major opera companies: Opera Australia (OA), Opera Queensland (OQ), State Opera of South Australia (SOSA) and West Australian Opera (WAO).

In 2016, The Australia Council allocated $23.7 million in funding to opera, representing 13.7 percent of all arts funding. Recommendations by the Opera Review included a funding increase of $24.1 million across four years, an “appropriate” balance between the numbers of Australian and international singers employed, the elevation of Victorian Opera to Major Performing Arts (MPA) status, and a package to help Opera Queensland achieve financial stability in order to retain its MPA status.

Earlier this year, the Government announced its initial response, agreeing to support a structural adjustment package for Opera Queensland and support for Victorian Opera to become a MPA company. These two recommendations are now in the process of being...