Abstract
The paper makes a case for a government-led cultural inquiry. Drawing together examples across a range of areas in Australian media and cultural policy, it points out a widespread pattern of inconsistencies, ad hoc arrangements and reversals. This pattern cannot be attributed to the inadequacies of any single government, but reflects a basic confusion about the kinds of policy objectives which it is now appropriate to pursue. While established policy frameworks are proving increasingly inadequate in responding to a rapidly changing environment, they have not been fundamentally rethought. Given the importance to Australia of media and cultural industries, there is an urgent need to clarify the basic principles on which policy is formulated.