Resale royalty and Indigenous artists

In the 2008 Federal Budget, delivered on 13 May 2008, the ALP Government committed to the provision of $1.5 million for the establishment of a resale right scheme for visual artists.1 At the time of writing in May 2008, a Resale Right for Visual Artists Bill is listed under legislation proposed for introduction into the Australian Parliament, but it is unlikely that the Bill will be introduced before the Parliamentary Spring Sittings (late August – early November 2008). This short article explains what is meant by a ‘resale right’, the background to the 2008 Budget announcement, and the relevance of resale rights to Indigenous artists. More information will be provided about the specific scheme once it comes to hand