Crean names Swan as a policy obstacle SIMON Crean has made an artful jab at Wayne Swan, naming the Treasurer as an obstacle to bringing forth his long-awaited national cultural policy. The Arts Minister gave a hint of his frustration at a party to mark the 40th anniversary of the Australia Council on Monday night. He pointed out that his father, Frank Crean, was prepared to fund the Australia Council in 1973 when he was treasurer in the Whitlam government. "I keep making this point to Wayne Swan when I'm arguing our position in terms of the national cultural policy," Crean told guests at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. Crean is understood to be pushing for the NCP to be released by the middle of next month, ahead of deliberations for the May federal budget. It was expected to be released about the time of last year's budget. Since then, Crean has repeated that he is fighting for funds to be attached to the policy. However, he has linked several funded initiatives to the NCP, including $20 million across three years for the Australian Interactive Games Fund as well as $3.2m across two years for Creative Partnerships Australia, a new body intended to drive private-sector arts support. Crean has yet to respond in full to a top-down review of the Australia Council last year that called for less rigid funding categories and a more business-oriented board. He says the NCP will help make arts institutions and agencies "fit the times and realise the opportunities." "In economic terms, our comparative advantage and strengths are going to be determined by how effective we are in investing in innovation and creative design, and the arts is a vital piece of the puzzle," he says. He notes that two Australian winners of Grammy awards last week - singer Gotye and flautist Tim Munro, a member of Chicago ensemble Eighth Blackbird - have been previous recipients of Australia Council support. "Australia Council funding is not about picking winners, it's about the pursuit of excellence," Crean says.