Australian Live Music Scene, ABC Take Massive Hits In 2018 Budget

The Government has been slammed for offering no new policy initiatives or investment into Australia's live music scene following last night's budget announce, while the ABC is set to lose $84 million over the coming years.

Live Performance Australia (LPA) Chief Executive, Evelyn Richardson, has slammed the budget as a "big disappointment" for the live performance scene. 

"There's nothing there in terms of new policy initiatives or investment to support the live performance industry’s growth and sustain the 34,000 jobs in metropolitan and regional areas supported by the industry," Richardson said

"The Government’s neglect of live performance in this budget follows the upheaval of earlier budgets including the Catalyst fiasco."

Richardson's comments come in reference to the contentious arts funding program introduced in 2015, which transplanted the responsibility for publicly funded art projects to be directly under the Arts Ministry's purview

Richardson continued, "Post-Catalyst, the Minister for the Arts, Senator Fifield, indicated he wanted to work with industry to develop a more strategic approach to supporting live performance in Australia.

"That was almost two years ago, and as this budget shows, the Government is yet to take up the opportunity to come up with any meaningful policy initiatives or plan for our industry or the creative industries more broadly," Ms Richardson said. 

"It really is time for the Turnbull Government to reflect the economic and cultural contribution our industry makes to Australia with a broader vision and some long-term, strategic policy initiatives that support its future growth."

Meanwhile, as ABC reports, the broadcaster's annual funding indexation will be frozen for three years starting in July next year.

The budget papers state the freeze is being enforced to ensure ABC continues to find back-office efficiencies.

However, last night's budget announced that SBS will receive $14.6 million over two years.