Greens Launch Plan For Festival Support Package

On Saturday, April 19th, South Australian Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, the Greens spokesperson for the arts, launched a ground-breaking new festivals support package with Mandy Nolan and Bluesfest Festival Director Peter Noble at the iconic Byron Bay Festival Bluesfest.

It is no secret that Australia’s festival sector is embroiled in turmoil. Though festivals have long been the beating heart of the local music industry, are a essential factor in terms of expanding audiences for Australian artists, and are crucial in supporting the local tourism, hospitality, and retail businesses, they have been beset by major issues such as the cost of living crisis, the skyrocketing cost of insurance, and the impacts of extreme weather events caused by worsening climate change.

In light of all this, political party the Greens have decided to allocate $20 million a year to provide a critical lifeline to Australian festivals.

At Bluesfest, Senator Hanson-Young outlined the policy initiatives, stating, “Our festivals are in crisis. Over the past few years, we have seen the cancellation after cancellation of loved and iconic festivals. It’s clear that the government needs to step in to help the industry.

“The Albanese Government made some big promises to the arts industry when they were first elected, almost 3 years on, they have failed to deliver. A plan for the arts is nothing without the funding required to support the industry.

“The Greens’ plan for supporting our festivals takes a holistic view of what the sector needs. This means direct support in the form of grants, a review of the market failure in insurance for live events, a federal strategy for the sustainability of festivals across the country into the future and tax offsets for both venues and artists.

“Festivals are an essential part of the music ecosystem and an important part of our culture. It’s how Australian artists build new audiences that help set up their careers, and it’s how young people build a love for live music. Festivals matter; they particularly bring our regions, like the Northern Rivers, to life. Festivals inject money and enthusiasm into our local communities from the cities to the regions.

“I am excited to be making this announcement at Bluesfest, an iconic Australian festival and a great example of how investment in the arts drives local, regional economies.

“The Greens always have been and always will be the party for the arts. This election, to support our arts and creative industries, you have to vote Green.”

In short, the Greens plan to fight for $20 million a year in grants for festivals, $2 million for a review to investigate the market failure of insurance in the live music industry and options to establish a government backed insurance scheme, the creation of a festivals strategy through Music Australia to ensure federal and state government coordination and support, tax offsets for touring artists and venues that host live performances, and more.