CONFIDENTIAL board minutes reveal the Howard Government had a direct role in determining the membership and agenda for a controversial panel reviewing exhibits at the National Museum of Australia.

Museum council minutes show Arts Minister Rod Kemp contributed to "the process for the review and the membership of the committee". Senator Kemp passed his recommendations to the council through Tony Staley, former Liberal Party president and museum chairman. But Mr Staley yesterday described as "tripe" claims the review was an attempt to bring the museum's exhibits into line with the Howard Government's view of history, and said Senator Kemp's contributions were entirely appropriate.

Conservative commentators and historians have described exhibits as from the "black-arm band" version of indigenous history and "one in the eye for the Howard Government". Under the terms of reference drafted at the November meeting but yet to be released, the review will examine the content of the museum's exhibitions and programs, and consider and make recommendations on the relevance of the 1980 National Museum of Australia Act, which enshrines the need for an indigenous gallery.

Mr Staley confirmed the terms of reference were sent to Senator Kemp after the November 1 meeting, and blamed the delay in release on the holidays. He said the completed review would be delivered to the museum's council, not the Government. On Senator Kemp's advice, the council appointed John Carroll, a sociologist at Melbourne's La Trobe University, to the four-member panel. Professor Carroll will chair the panel. "The chairman reported that he had some discussions with the Minister for the Arts and Sport in regard to the process for the review and the membership of the committee," the minutes say.

Professor Carroll contributes to the conservative journal Quadrant and on some issues is a published supporter of the Howard Government. Mr Staley dropped his support for Philip Jones, senior curator of anthropology at the South Australian Museum, to chair the panel. But Mr Staley recommended Dr Jones as a member, along with Richard Longes, director of Investec Australia investment bank, and Professor Carroll.

After concerns were raised about a lack of balance of gender and museum expertise, Patricia Vickers-Rich, Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology and director of Monash Science Centre, was appointed the fourth member.

reprinted from the Australian 13th January 2003