Support for Australia's Arts Sector

As a member of the Parliament’s Communications and Arts Committee I have been disappointed by the lack of support from the Morrison Government for our arts sector.

Australia’s Arts sector is an essential part of our economy, our community and our identity.

I have moved a motion to Parliament calling on the National Cabinet to:

a)     Enact a tailored package of support to the Arts sector;

b)    Ensure that working artists are able to access appropriate income support;

c)     Consider how the Commonwealth, State, Territory and Local governments can assist the Arts sector for the medium to long term economic impacts of COVID-19.

The Labor Party argued for some time for a wage subsidy to support Australian workers through this challenging period and welcomed the JobKeeper package.

We have identified a number of gaps in the package, including the exclusion of casual workers who have been with their employer for less than 12 months.

The arts need a specific, tailored package of support from the government. Economy-wide measures, while helpful, will not assist the whole sector and are insufficient to preserve the Australian arts sector as we know it.

The arts sector was there when Australia needed it, helping to raise money for bushfire relief. Australians are relying on music, books, and Australian television and movies to help get them through this period of isolation and crisis. But the Morrsion Government has refused help to the arts sector when it needs it most.

We need the arts to be there when Australia emerges from this crisis – the government must act now.