Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: The Government was right to give billions to defence and forget arts

Geez, how sorry do you feel for Paul Goldsmith at the Music Awards, eh? So, he's invited to the awards and he hasn't got his mate Chris Bishop with him this time. Bishop didn’t go after what happened with Don McGlashan last year. Paul Goldsmith’s not invited to speak—apparently no one is—which means that when Lynda Topp gets up and starts speaking and tells him off, he’s got no right of reply.  Here's what she had to say: “Paul, if you listen up for a minute, I’d like you to take a message back to Wellington. I did a speed read on the Budget this afternoon—there doesn’t appear to be any money for music. But in big, big letters: $2.1 billion for defence. What the f***?” Now, I think we have to cut Lynda a bit of slack. She’s only lost her twin in the past week and she’s entitled, of course, to say exactly what she likes. She didn’t say anything particularly rude and it’s a fair opinion that she holds. But it is becoming a bit of a pattern, isn’t it? Ministers turning up to the Music Awards and having to sit through that night’s chosen form of protest about whatever the issue of the year is. Last year it was the Treaty Principles Bill; this year it’s the Budget. In Paul Goldsmith’s defence—given that he wasn’t able to mount one—yes, there was no money in the Budget for the arts. There was also no money in the Budget for anything. Most of us looked at it and found nothing for ourselves. That’s how it should be in difficult times. The country is not flush. And yes, there is money for defence—a lot of money for defence. That is also how it should be right now. If you were to listen to some, we may be only tens of months away from China potentially taking Taiwan. We have no real conception of what chain of events that could trigger in our region. Even though the drones and the frigate upgrades in this Budget won’t protect the entire coastline of New Zealand—that’s a fair criticism—we are still expected by our allies and partners to at least try to do our bit. Just try. So, hands up—which minister wants to go to the awards next year? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.