ARTS PETITION SHOWS VALUE OF PEOPLE POWER

The official Parliamentary petition which successfully lobbied the Morrison Government to provide a relief package for the arts and entertainment sector has now closed, reaching ahuge 36,141 signatures. This is the biggest online Parliamentary petition of 2020 so far.

The success of this petition, launched by MEAA Equity President Chloe Dallimore, shows just how much support is out there for Australia’s artists and entertainers. This is particularly important when plans to re-open venues and re-start performances in Australia’s second-largest state, Victoria, have been put on hold once more.

But unfortunately the fight is not over.

The Government is still refusing to extend the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme to more arts and entertainment workers, and has failed to answer the industry’s calls for the scheme to be extended beyond September. 

The arts and entertainment sector was the first to be impacted by coronavirus restrictions, and will be one of the last to return to normal. The situation is very fragile. It’s time for the Government to wake up to this reality.

Disappointingly, despite the Government announcing its relief package more than two weeks ago, neither guidelines nor eligibility criteria are available. Artists and entertainers are still in the dark as to whether they can even apply for this much-delayed funding, and it’s just not good enough.

For many artists and entertainers, recovery is a very long way ahead. Labor will not forget them, and we will continue to advocate for them to get the support they need and deserve. 

THURSDAY, 9 JULY 2020