On the 16 June 2015 the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report:

the impact of the 2014 and 2015 Commonwealth Budget decisions on the Arts; and 

the suitability and appropriateness of the establishment of a National Programme for Excellence in the Arts, to be administered by the Ministry for the Arts, with particular reference to:the effect on funding arrangements for:

• small to medium arts organisations,
• individual artists,
• young and emerging artists,
• the Australia Council,
• private sector funding of the arts, and
• state and territory programs of support to the arts,
• protection of freedom of artistic expression and prevention of political influence,
• access to a diversity of quality arts and cultural experiences,
• the funding criteria and implementation processes to be applied to the program,
• implications of any duplication of administration and resourcing, and
• any related matter. 

On 10 November 2015, the Senate granted an extension of time for reporting until 2 December 2015.