'Rolling, temporary closures': leaky national gallery pleads for funding

The gallery warned in its latest annual report tabled in Parliament that "rolling temporary closures" would be in place as public and operational areas were patched up over the coming years.

"Building rectification projects will remain a constant over the coming years as we address a significant backlog of building failures and aging infrastructure," the report said.

"This essential work is currently only partially funded, and we are actively focused on securing forward funding ... We continue to implement a short-term plan to mitigate the risks of water ingress affecting the national collection, visitors and staff."

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said when asked on Tuesday if additional funding would be provided that Arts Minister Tony Burke would "work his way through requests as they come through".

"There's a number of those that come through," Ms King said. "He'll bring those forward to budget processes if requested."

ACT independent senator David Pocock said it was "worrying that the work to fix the leaky roof at our National Gallery, which holds billions in public assets, has only been partially funded."

Finance Minister and ACT Labor senator Katy Gallagher said she had "met several times with the NGA" to discuss what repairs were needed, including "going down to look at it all to see how it needs to be dealt with."

Mr Albanese said in January that his government had shown its commitment to national institutions, specifically mentioning the NGA and pointing to funding provided in the 2023-24 federal budget.

"We have put half a billion dollars into our national institutions just down the road here," he told the National Press Club at the time, referring to a package that included $42.4 million for NGA capital works.

"We had a national art gallery that has a single piece of art - thanks to Gough Whitlam - worth $500 million, that has buckets on the floor because the roof is leaking in the same venue that has Blue Poles."

The $535.3 million allocated in 2023-24 included:

Senator Pocock called for "more transparency" around how the NGA had spent the funding provided.

A government spokesperson said the $42.4 million handed to the gallery was for "a range of capital repairs, including the replacement of several leaking skylights ... repairs to leaking water features, and to the gallery's offsite storage facility."

They said the NGA "has complex waterproofing issues that are taking time to resolve."

An NGA spokesperson said it was "rolling out a significant building works and rectification program over the next four years to help protect our heritage-listed building and the national collection, including some high-priority roof repairs."

"During this period, we will remain open with temporary closures of some spaces," the spokesperson said.

"Built has been appointed as the contractor and the works program is on track with works commencing early 2026."

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The government spokesperson said it was "understandable that periodic closures" of parts of the NGA would be necessary but had asked that disruption be minimised.

Labor blames the Coalition for "neglecting our nation's capital" while in government.

The NGA's 2024-25 annual report said it had undertaken rectification works over the year to "replace end-of-life infrastructure, respond to safety and compliance requirements and address longstanding issues with five water features."

"Work commenced at the offsite storage facility to repack and rehouse objects for long-term storage in preparation for plant and equipment upgrades and compliance works."