Live Review: Sarah Hanson-Young and Tony Burke stand up for the music industry in their respective speeches to the Australian Government

South Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and Labor Member of Parliament for Watson Tony Burke have both stood up for the Australian arts and entertainment industries over the past couple of days in their respective speeches to the Senate and the House of Representatives. They both defend the importance of arts communities across the country, standing up for the Australian music scenes adversity over the past year and a half, as well as providing solutions to support the struggling, heavily effected industry.

Opening her address in the senate, Sarah Hanson-Young stated, 'As half of the country was plunged back into lockdown over the weekend, I was inundated with messages from artists and musicians from right across the country who are just devastated by another season of events and festivals, concerts and live performance that just won't be able to go ahead anymore. In her speech she supports the campaign launched by Jack Rivers 'Our Soundtrack Our Stories'. With the address she presents the case for Australian music to be played on commercial radio, an insurance scheme set up for the Australian music scene to protect against cancellation costs as well as providing Job Keeper for Australian artists. "At a time like this - when there is a market failure - this is the moment for governments to step in and help out", she stated.

Our music and events sector has taken another hit as half the country is plunged back into lockdown.

3 things to help:

- Play Aussie music on radio, streaming & in businesses

- An insurance scheme to protect music & live events from cancellation costs

- Job Keeper for artists pic.twitter.com/2z76PqZYis

— ?? Sarah Hanson-Young (@sarahinthesen8) August 9, 2021

Similarly, Tony Burke advocated for a Government backed insurance scheme to cover cancelled events in the House of Representatives. He quotes that 23 000 gigs have been cancelled since the 1st of July aswell as Bluesfest's cancellation two years in a row. "We have a situation where festivals are now wondering whether they can take the risk to put themselves forward again", he states. Burke calls for insurance for the music community, as well as a working wage subsidy for people operating in creative communities. He also criticised the Federal Governments music grants program, in which of the $250 million that was promised to be distributed, only $100 million was given to the arts industry.

 

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Words by Parry Tritsiniotis

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