Former musician and Arts minister Peter Garrett has shut down an elite Melbourne classical music school.
The former singer with political rock band Midnight Oil has decided to defund the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) and start a new institution within the University of Melbourne.
Unlike other institutions, ANAM does not offer degrees or formal classes - it comprises mainly of one-on-one tuition and opportunities to perform.
The body is seen as a good bridge between learning institutions and the professional musical circuit.
The federal opposition has questioned the motives behind the decision, pointing to the cosy relationship between the Vice Chancellor of Melbourne University Glyn Davis and the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Davis helped Rudd run the recent 2020 Summit in Canberra.
Garrett has not announced how many students the new school will take or where it will be located.