State Government backs John Button Prize — 12.06.2009
State Government backs John Button Prize
The State Government has donated $20,000 to support the inaugural John Button Prize.
The gift follows the successful public launch of the Prize Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Victorian Premier John Brumby and Victorian Minister for Public Transport and the Arts, Lynne Kosky, at Queens Hall in the State Parliament on April 30.
Mr Rudd told the audience that the $20,000 annual prize for the best piece of writing on politics or public policy was ``long overdue recognition of the importance of critical, thoughtful, political discourse beyond the Kibuki play that often passes for political debate in this country.''
He said he hoped the Prize would ``throw a spotlight on the best emerging talent among writers. And in an age when we can more easily treat ourselves to the best of international journalism, I hope it can nurture a distinctly Australian voice.''
Premier John Brumby said that Victoria, ``as the centre of literature and creativity in Australia,'' was proud to be the home of the John Button Prize.
The State Government's generous donation represents a substantial boost to funding for the Prize, which is seeking to raise money through government, corporate and individual donations, in order to maintain the Prize in perpetuity, and to ensure that the Prize becomes a landmark of Australian intellectual life.
The Chairman of the John Button Literary Foundation, Dr John Miller, said he was delighted with the Government’s pledge and looked forward to a long connection between the Victorian Government and the Prize.