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Henson gallery raid `a blow to artist freedom`

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A SENIOR Liberal frontbencher has launched a passionate defence of beleaguered photographer Bill Henson, saying police should not be "tramping" through art galleries.

Charges are expected to be laid after police last week seized 20 Henson photographs of a naked girl and boy, believed to be aged 12 and 13, from Sydney`s Roslyn Oxley9 gallery.

Malcolm Turnbull, who owns two of Henson`s works, says artistic freedom is one of the things that has made Australia great.

"I don`t believe that we should have policemen invading art galleries," the Opposition`s treasury spokesman said.

"I think we have a culture of great artistic freedom in this country and I don`t believe the vice-squad`s role is to go into art galleries."

Mr Turnbull said of the Henson photographs he owns: "One is of a face in profile and the other one is of a sunset".

While keen to defend artistic freedom Mr Turnbull said he wasn`t expressing an opinion about the particular works at the centre of the current controversy, which depict naked teenagers.

"I haven`t seen them," Mr Turnbull said of the photographs, which Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has labelled disgusting and Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson says violate Australian values.

Nothing was more important than protecting children and avoiding exploitation, Mr Turnbull said.

"But we live in a free society and it`s important that artists, writers and journalist be able to express themselves freely ... within the law."

Before policemen went "tramping through art galleries and libraries" people should reflect on the fact "freedom is what makes this country great".

Mr Rudd is standing by his criticism of Bill Henson`s controversial photographs of naked adolescents.

Mr Rudd described the images, that were seized by police last week, as "absolutely revolting".

Actress Cate Blanchett has joined dozens of artists calling on the Prime Minister to rethink his remarks.

But Mr Rudd today said he was unapologetic and would stand by his criticism.

"I gave my reaction, I stand by that reaction and I don`t apologise for it and I won`t be changing it," Mr Rudd said.

"I am passionate about children having innocence in their childhood."

It was not appropriate for politicians to comment or intervene with the legal process, he said.

"It is properly in the hands of independent processes."

Mr Rudd said he was unaware that Opposition treasury spokesman Malcolm Turnbull owned a couple of Henson photographs.

Blanchett and other prominent Australians yesterday backed Henson, saying charging him would damage Australia`s cultural reputation.

In an open letter, 43 people who were part of the creative stream at the Federal Government`s 2020 Summit in April declared their support for Henson`s work and warned of the effects of censorship.

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