100 DAYS OF DELAY – BUT FINALLY AN ARTS PACKAGE

It has been more than 100 days since Labor first called on the government to deliver a support package for the arts and entertainment sector.
 
For months, Scott Morrison and his ministers stubbornly insisted it wasn’t necessary - that somehow an industry that had been completely shut down by coronavirus restrictions didn’t need any extra assistance.
 
This totally unnecessary delay has done enormous damage to this industry and its workers.
 
But we welcome news that the Government has finally listened and decided to act.
 
It shouldn’t have taken this long and we fear it may never have happened without the campaigns mounted by the sector and by Labor.
 
But these investments will undoubtedly help some sections of the industry get back on their feet.
 
We remain concerned that there is still no direct support for the workers themselves, many of whom miss out on JobKeeper but won’t be able to return to work anytime soon.
 
We will also be consulting with businesses in the industry about the implications of the fact that the largest part of this announcement will saddle companies with increased debt.
 
Labor will also be consulting with venues about how the announcement interacts with them. If venue don’t make it to the other side of this crisis, there will be no recovery.
 
We will work through the details of the package in the coming days and we will continue to advocate for a better deal for these workers. If the Government decides to do more, Labor will support it.
 
Our artists tell our stories. They make us laugh, and cry and dance. They entertain us, and teach us about ourselves and each other.
 
Six months ago we asked our artists to work for free to raise money for bushfire relief and they did. And throughout COVID-19 lockdown, we relied on our artists to get us through. Without music, without books, without TV and movies, many of us would have struggled to cope.
 
This year has surely shown us that art is not some frivolous luxury. It is absolutely essential. It part of our identity as a nation - and Labor will never stop fighting to protect Australia’s arts community.