Katie Noonan Blasts Inattentive Campbell Newman

Brisbane singer Katie Noonan has slammed Queensland Premier Campbell Newman after he allegedly ignored her performance at a function last night.

Noonan was performing at a function for the opening of the One One One building on Brisbane's Eagle Street last night and following the performance she took to Facebook to voice how displeased she was about the treatment she had received from the Queensland LNP Leader.

"Tonight was the first night I have played for an Australian premier and he/she has had their back to me the entire time, did not stop talking (loudly) during the entire performance and did not raise a hand for one single clap," she said. "Even sadder was that it was my own state's premier. Given his regard for arts policy thus far I guess this was sadly unsurprising."

The Premier has come under fire for his cuts to the school-aged music education programs Fanfare and MOST (Musically Outstanding Students), as well as his abolishment of the Premier Literary Awards, all of these cuts coming in the first few months of his tenure as Queensland Premier. Yesterday it was also announced that the National New Media Arts Award and the Queensland New Media Scholarship, will no longer receive any funding from the Queensland government.

After Noonan's comments caused a stir online, she issued another statement in an attempt to clarify her comment's intentions, saying that the comments weren't meant to be a personal slur, rather a comment on the Premier's respect for the arts.

"The comment I made last night was not intended to be about myself and expecting a particular reaction, it was intended to be a comment about my passion for respecting the Arts in Queensland and my genuine concern about this government's support for strong arts policy. One of the first things Mr Newman did as Premier was scrap the Premier's Literacy Awards. Now there are talks the Qld government is going to scrap MOST ( creative generation excellence awards in instrumental music) and Fanfare - two wonderful education initiatives that are vital to supporting the future of Queensland music. These moves, combined with his behaviour last night, has left me with a genuine concern about the future of my state's arts agenda. I am fiercely proud of the World class art my state creates and I just hope Mr Newman is too. Finally, I also just want to point out that I was very proud to be at this great Brisbane event playing my music with great local musicians!"

In response to Noonan's comments, the Premier's office offered an apology and an explanation, stating Newman's time at the function was limited.

Re last night's business function - The Premier had a queue of guests to see him and only had 20 mins before returning to Parlt – PremTeam

— Campbell Newman (@theqldpremier) August 2, 2012

There was general chat in the room throughout the background entertainment and if Ms Noonan took offence, the Premier apologises. - PremTeam

— Campbell Newman (@theqldpremier) August 2, 2012

Fellow Brisbane-bred vocalist Kate Miller-Heidke joined Noonan in her disgust at Newman's behavior at the function, tweeting the following this morning.

Seems our premier gives not much of a shit about music, and isn't too fussed about basic human politeness either.twitpic.com/aedbke

— Kate Miller-Heidke (@kmillerheidke) August 1, 2012