4th Mar 2014, 3:57 PM – Senate Motions - Biennale of Sydney - Commend protest against Transfield sponsorship

The majority voted against commending the artists who have protested against Transfield Holdings' sponsorship of the Biennale of Sydney.

Why protest Transfield's sponsorship?

Transfield Holdings is a shareholder in Transfield Services, which is being paid $1.22 billion by the Australian Government to run offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru. By opposing Transfield Holdings' sponsorship, the artists are protesting against the government's mandatory detention policy.

Text of the motion

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) Transfield Holdings is a major sponsor of the 19th Biennale of Sydney,

(ii) Transfield Holdings is a shareholder in Transfield Services,

(iii) Transfield Services is being paid $1.22 billion by the Australian Government to run offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru,

(iv) five artists have pulled out of the Biennale of Sydney because of Transfield’s links to Australia’s cruel mandatory detention policies, and

(v) 28 Biennale artists have written to the Biennale board, urging it to cut ties with Transfield and to find new sponsors; and

(b) commends the courage and commitment to human rights of the Biennale artists who have both written to the board requesting new sponsors and the artists who have pulled out of the Biennale of Sydney.