Stop The Vans Live Music Policy Launched

5 July 2013 | 4:30 pm | SPA Confidential

A new live music policy looks to protect the jobs of local musicians.

A new political party has unveiled their first policy since founding today and, somewhat surprisingly, it is focused around the topic of live music.

Perhaps looking to capitalise on the buzz generated from the Labor Loves Live Music campaign that has been receiving a lot of attention of late, the recently established Show Pony Party has announced their own “Stop The Vans” campaign.

In a bizarre press conference in Sydney today, party leader Graham Sipp said that the party was looking to protect the jobs of local musicians.

“You go on the internet, on Facebook, you it read in the newspapers… Day after day there are bands jumping in these vans, which aren't even safe, and coming down here uninvited.

Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter

“They're getting gigs in some of our best venues while our homegrown bands are struggling to get by. I guess, in a sense, they're queue jumpers.”

When asked what measures would be taken to stop bands making their way interstate for shows, Sipp was cagey.

“Processing centres are hard to organise because seeking gigs away from your home state is not actually illegal,” Sipp said. “But we plan on thinking about this very hard for the next couple of months. I personally intend on attending a number of conferences.”

No bands were willing to comment on the policy.