MORRISON MUST SUPPORT THE ARTS THROUGH CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

Australia’s arts sector was already fragile before the coronavirus crisis due to the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government’s cuts and neglect.
 
Now with live performance ticket sales dropping and the list of cancelled events growing rapidly, the sector could be brought to the brink over coming months.
 
Most performers are literally ‘gig workers’: no show means no income.
 
The same goes for the people who help put the shows together.
 
But so far the government has been completely silent on an industry which contributes $50 billion to the Australian economy and employs hundreds of thousands of Australians, including many in regional areas.
 
This isn’t good enough.
 
The Government has announced specific measures to support the tourism industry. Live performance is similarly vulnerable to this crisis and needs help.

The Government needs a plan for the arts sector and we need to hear what it is - urgently.

FRIDAY, 13 MARCH 2020