In fairness, it appears there were some courses in the list that were not generating adequate student numbers to justify their continuance, but I'd like to know under what criteria the minister is judging the desire for a creative career as a "lifestyle choice" and where is the evidence that it won't lead to a good career.

In the case of many of these courses, if they are made financially inaccessible to prospective students we will surely be left with a less dynamic culture in Australia in the long term. The move may also lead the privileging of creative industries to the children of wealthy families who can afford to make such so-called lifestyle choices.

The minister is also missing the point that artists are trained professionals across a range of disciplines that are employable in many industry sectors, both within and outside the arts.

I went to university in the 1990s and relied on a government study loan. I majored in professional writing and dedicated much of my spare time to editing the university newspaper. Perhaps my work prospects may have appeared shaky to hard-nosed neo-liberal thinking – but I went on to have a book published and built a career where my writing became my bread and butter.

Arts provides the foundation for creative and innovative thinking that can be applied in many areas of work and society at large. At present, Australian artists, filmmakers and musicians are well represented and recognised internationally. But if we cease to nurture our arts and culture at home – we will soon cease to make waves outside Australia.