Australia abolishes arts department

The country's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced the Department of Communications and the Arts will be merged into a new Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications as part of a public service restructure. The change surprised the current Head of Department Mike Mrdak, who wrote "I was told of the government’s decision to abolish the department late yesterday afternoon." It has also appalled Australia's arts sector, which sees the decision as a slap in the face.