Chaney hits back at opponent over Sculpture by the Sea jab (5 Dec 2024)
Curtin MP Kate Chaney has responded to claims by her Liberal opponent Tom White that she lacked influence in preserving the Sculpture by the Sea event. White had pledged $1.5 million to host the exhibition in 2026 and 2027, but Chaney dismissed the promise as an election stunt, comparing it to the sports and carpark rorts scandals.
“Public funds must be allocated openly and fairly, especially in a cost-of-living crisis,” she said. “No one wants to return to the days of sports and carpark rorts, where funding was handed out in marginal seats to buy votes. When a candidate suddenly finds $1.5 million for a project right before an election, people are right to question the motives.”
The 2025 Sculpture by the Sea event was cancelled after organiser David Handley’s funding application to Creative Australia’s Four Year Investment program was rejected. Chaney defended the agency’s independent assessment process, asserting its role in ensuring fair allocation of taxpayer funds.
She encouraged the organisers to reapply and explore alternative funding options. “I would encourage them to look closely at the funding criteria and consider more sustainable funding mechanisms, such as collaborating with other coastal councils like Scarborough, which have expressed willingness to contribute more significantly,” she said.
Many WAtoday readers agree with Chaney’s approach, with a recent poll indicating support for relocating the event. The City of Stirling has offered to host the exhibition at Scarborough Beach, but Handley argued the site is unsuitable due to its flat terrain, which would require sculptures at least 10 metres in diameter—an impractical demand for most artists.
He also highlighted financial challenges, stating that relocating the event would require securing backing from all contributors, including artists, which he described as "an extremely long bow to pull."
