Title: Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Bill 2026
Author: Office of Parliamentary Counsel
Last saved by: Karina Dearden
Category: parliamentary.copy
Document comments: ha24

House of Assembly—No 24
As laid on the table and read a first time, 2 September 2026

Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Bill 2026
Contents

Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Bill 2026

Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Bill 2026
Part 1—Preliminary

Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Bill 2026
Preliminary—Part 1

Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Bill 2026
Part 2—Principles, objects and guidelines

Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Bill 2026
Principles, objects and guidelines—Part 2

Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Bill 2026
Part 3—Administration

Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Bill 2026
Administration—Part 3

Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Bill 2026
Part 4—State Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy

Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Bill 2026
State Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy—Part 4

Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Bill 2026
Part 5—Miscellaneous

Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Bill 2026
Miscellaneous—Part 5

South Australia
Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Bill 2026
A Bill For
An Act to recognise the importance of the arts, culture and creative industries in South Australia, to provide for a State Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy, to ensure that all South Australians benefit from and can participate in the arts, culture and creativity of South Australia, and for other purposes.

Contents
Part 1—Preliminary
1	Short title
2	Commencement
3	Interpretation
Part 2—Principles, objects and guidelines
4	Principles
5	Objects
6	Guidelines
Part 3—Administration
7	Functions of Minister
Part 4—State Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy
8	State Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy
9	Consultation for State Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy
10	Publication of State Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy
11	Ministerial statement
Part 5—Miscellaneous
12	Interaction with other Acts and laws
13	Regulations

The Parliament of South Australia enacts as follows:
Part 1—Preliminary
1—Short title
This Act may be cited as the Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Act 2026.
2—Commencement
This Act comes into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation.
3—Interpretation
In this Act—
public sector agency has the same meaning as in the Public Sector Act 2009;
State Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy or State Policy means the State Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy prepared under Part 4, as in force from time to time.

Part 2—Principles, objects and guidelines
4—Principles
The Government of South Australia recognises and acknowledges the following principles:
	(a)	Aboriginal people are South Australia's first peoples and nations, and the traditional owners and occupants of land and waters of South Australia, and their culture, arts and creativity represents the longest continuous cultural tradition in the World, which continues to inspire and lead the communities of South Australia;
	(b)	all South Australians have the right to participate in the cultural life of the community, and to experience, participate in and benefit from artistic, cultural and creative expression;
	(c)	the State's arts, culture and creative industries reflect the diversity of the people of South Australia;
	(d)	fostering the creativity and talent of our children and young people is critical to the future strength of our State and therefore every child and young person should have the opportunity to develop their creative talent with the support of the artists, creatives and cultural organisations of South Australia, in their schools and communities;
	(e)	all artists, makers and creatives in South Australia have the right to freedom of artistic and creative expression;
	(f)	the innovation of the State's arts, culture and creative industries is vital to ensuring that our cultural sectors continue to engage locally, nationally and internationally;
	(g)	a vibrant arts, culture and creative industries sector brings important wellbeing, social and economic benefits to the State;
	(h)	the State's cultural and heritage collections and materials are of enduring value and significance for all South Australians, support our cultural heritage and are central to understanding our histories, cultures and environments and contribute to the sharing of knowledge across generations.
5—Objects
The objects of this Act are as follows:
	(a)	to establish strategic planning processes to ensure that South Australia can continue to be a place where the arts, culture and creative industries can flourish for the benefit of all South Australians;
	(b)	to ensure community input into those strategic planning processes;
	(c)	to ensure that appropriate research and data gathering occurs in relation to the arts, culture and creative industries in the State;
	(d)	to promote involvement in the arts, culture and creative industries and the freedom of artistic expression and creativity;
	(e)	to develop strategies that will help to make South Australia one of the best places in the world for artists and creatives to live and work at every stage in their career;
	(f)	to develop strategies to ensure continued innovation in, and growth and development of, the arts, culture and creative industries sector in South Australia;
	(g)	to receive feedback from cultural organisations, creative industries, artists and creatives on matters affecting arts, culture and creative industries in the State;
	(h)	to foster and support the commitment of our cultural organisations, creative industries, artists and creatives to sustainable environmental practices.
6—Guidelines
	(1)	The Minister may publish such guidelines as the Minister thinks appropriate for the purposes of this Act.
	(2)	The Minister may substitute, vary or revoke guidelines under this section.
	(3)	The Minister must cause guidelines under this section to be published.

Part 3—Administration
7—Functions of Minister
The functions of the Minister under this Act are—
	(a)	to prepare and maintain the State Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy; and
	(b)	to promote and support the arts, culture and creative industries in South Australia; and
	(c)	to foster community engagement in the arts, culture and creative industries in South Australia; and
	(d)	to work with public sector agencies to develop programs, consistent with the principles and objects of this Act with, and for, all South Australians; and
	(e)	such other functions as may be conferred on the Minister by or under this Act.

Part 4—State Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy
8—State Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy
	(1)	The Minister must prepare and maintain a State Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy.
	(2)	The State Policy must—
	(a)	set out whole‑of‑government policies and measures for achieving the principles and objects of this Act; and
	(b)	set out the strategic priorities of the State in relation to the arts, culture and creative industries (including objectives to be pursued in achieving those priorities); and
	(c)	identify principles to guide decision‑making and investment under the State Policy; and
	(d)	include any other matters required by the regulations.
	(3)	The Minister must ensure that the State Policy is in force at all times.
	(4)	The State Policy must specify the period (being a period not exceeding 10 years) to which it applies.
	(5)	The Minister may vary or substitute the State Policy at any time. 
9—Consultation for State Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy
In preparing, varying or substituting the State Policy, the Minister must (in such manner as the Minister thinks fit) consult with communities, cultural organisations, creative industries, artists and creatives in South Australia to ensure that the State Policy is informed by the needs and views of communities and the arts, culture and creative industries.
10—Publication of State Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Policy
The Minister must cause the State Policy, as in force from time to time, to be published.
11—Ministerial statement
	(1)	The Minister must, from time to time, make a statement in accordance with this section in respect of the State Policy.
	(2)	A Ministerial statement under this section—
	(a)	may be made by—
	(i)	the Minister making a statement to either House of Parliament; or
	(ii)	a public statement made and published in such manner as the Minister thinks fit; and
	(b)	must be made at least once in each 4 year period; and
	(c)	must set out information relating to the operation of the State Policy during the 4 year period preceding the statement; and
	(d)	must explain the operation and objectives of the State Policy for the 4 year period following the statement; and
	(e)	may contain any other information the Minister considers appropriate.

Part 5—Miscellaneous
12—Interaction with other Acts and laws
	(1)	This Act is in addition to, and does not derogate from, any other Act or law.
	(2)	Nothing in this Act renders lawful any act or omission that is unlawful under another Act or law.
13—Regulations
The Governor may make such regulations as are contemplated by, or necessary or expedient for the purposes of, this Act.

HA GP 273-B OPC 273