Cirrus@Austlit

'For many Australians 2022 marked a return to a more normal life resembling pre-pandemic conditions, as almost all Covid restrictions, mitigations, and reporting were wound back. Yet a new “normal” was also emerging, with over 20,000 excess deaths, half of them directly attributed to Covid, and increasing concern over the effects of long Covid (Alison Barrett, British Medical Journal 13 April 2023). In the May 2022 election, Australia had a change of government, with the centre-left Labor Party taking power after nine years of conservative government. The most remarkable aspect of the election was the huge cross-bench returned in the lower house, including six independents running on a platform of climate action and integrity in traditional conservative strongholds and four Greens members. Literature funding through the Australia Council had declined 40% under the previous government and the new Arts Minister, Tony Burke, declared an end to “the nine-year political attack on the arts and entertainment sector”, announcing the development of a new National Cultural Policy (ABC News, 24 August). Unveiled in late January 2023 the policy included a “First Nations First” focus on Indigenous people and their stories and established “Writers Australia” to provide “direct support to the literature sector from 2025”, to “grow local and international audiences for Australian books and establish a National Poet Laureate for Australia” (“Revive”, Office for the Arts).' (Introduction)