New Parliamentary Report Calls On Vic Govt To Take Action To Save Events Industry

The results of a Parliamentary inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on the Victorian events sector have been shared today. 

Titled the Inquiry Into The Impact Of The COVID-19 Pandemic On The Tourism & Events Sectors, the report saw large numbers of live event industry and events sector experts share their experiences from the past 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has had on their businesses. 

"It is now more than 18 months since the first COVID-19 case was recorded in Australia. We have all been affected in some way by the global pandemic, and the unprecedented challenges it has brought. Victoria’s tourism and events sectors are among the industries most affected by the impact of this virus," said inquiry chair Enver Erdogan in the report's foreword. 

"The tourism industry relies on people being able to move about freely, and the events sector cannot exist without people being able to come together safely. Both of these have been difficult and at times impossible during the pandemic.

"The Government-led effort to keep the public safe during 2020 meant making significant sacrifices, particularly for those in the tourism and events sectors. Fortunately, the tourism sector in Victoria began seeing the green shoots of recovery at the beginning of 2021. 

"Although it must be noted that this recovery is not uniform across the whole state, with Melbourne still facing significant challenges due to the ongoing effect of border closures and lockdowns. Unfortunately, the events sector is taking longer to recover. 

"Victoria has long been the events capital of Australia. A remarkable range of skilled operators and technicians help our economy stay strong and bring joy, not just to Victorians but, as the Committee learnt, to people across the world. Just how important events are to us can be measured by how much we have missed them in our lives..."

The following findings, recommendations and rationales from the inquiry have been shared.

The Impacts Of The COVID-19 Pandemic On Victoria's Events Sector

• FINDING 10: Many events businesses in Victoria do not feel represented by industry bodies because:
  • the businesses have not felt that they needed representation prior to the COVID-19 pandemic
  •  some cannot afford to join industry bodies
  • their business models do not align with the ‘visitor economy’ focus of some bodies, which stems from government policy.
    
    
• FINDING 11: Events provide economic, social and cultural value to Victoria.
  
  
• FINDING 12: The events sector generally accepts that the Victorian Government’s public health measures have been justified by the COVID-19 health crisis. However, there is a view within the sector that the Victorian Government has a role to play in providing support to the events sector because its decisions have directly affected the sector’s viability.
  
  
• FINDING 13: The effects of lockdowns, border closures and other public health measures threaten the long-term viability of the events sector in Victoria.
  
  
• FINDING 14: Events industry stakeholders identified border closures and uncertainty around hard lockdowns as key factors affecting operator and public confidence.
  
  
• FINDING 15: The inability to insure against COVID-19 is a large barrier to the recovery of the events sector in Victoria.
  
  
• FINDING 16: The loss of skilled workers is another threat to the recovery of the events sector in Victoria.
  
  
• FINDING 17: The events sector needs ongoing, targeted mental health support following the damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Recommendation 10: That the Victorian Government increase mental health support for the events sector, in recognition of the significant and ongoing mental health impacts experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional resourcing should ensure equal access to, and effective communication of, these services across the sector.
  • Rationale: Financial losses in the events sector have caused many business owners and workers great personal stress. The mental health toll of the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing and the Victorian Government should continue to provide necessary support for those who need it.
    
    
• FINDING 18: Events in rural and regional Victoria are a significant economic driver and deliver important social outcomes for communities.
  
  
• FINDING 19: As with rural and regional Victoria, events in Melbourne deliver important economic and social outcomes.
  
  
• FINDING 20: Some event organisers feel that major events, particularly professional sport, are treated more favourably regarding restrictions and density limits.
  
  
• Recommendation 11: That the Victorian Government ensure approvals timeframes for COVIDSafe Event Plans that require approval are expedited in order to provide necessary assurance to event organisers, with a maximum response time of four weeks for Tier 1 events and a maximum response time of two weeks for Tier 2 events seeking approval under the COVID-19 Public Events Framework.
  • Rationale: The Victorian Government has improved its approvals process for events. However, businesses need shorter timeframes to give them certainty that their events can occur
    
    
• Recommendation 12: That the Victorian Government ensure that the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions’ Public Events Team:
  • can provide timely support and advice in relation to the COVID-19 Public Events Framework and the safe coordination and management of events
  • establish additional mechanisms for communicating changes in restrictions and responding to common questions or issues with the events industry. This could include, for example, virtual information sessions and webinars.
    • Rationale: The unpredictable nature of the COVID-19 pandemic means changes to the COVID-19 Public Events Framework sometimes happen quickly. Event organisers need these changes communicated to them as quickly as possible.
      
      
• FINDING 21: Stakeholders from the events sector did not believe they have been consulted in a way that allowed them to contribute to Victoria’s COVID‑19 Public Events Framework.
  
  
• FINDING 22: A comprehensive understanding of the events sector will better inform the guidance provided by the Department of Health and the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions.
  • Recommendation 13: That the Victorian Government publish clear guidance on the types of triggers for the imposition or lifting of density quotients and venue capacity restrictions in order to maintain and support business confidence.
  • Rationale: Although the evolving nature of COVID-19 and the fact that each outbreak is unique makes predictions very difficult, wider sharing of the health advice regarding restrictions — including when lockdowns are likely to be imposed and lifted — would give the sector more certainty in planning events.
    
    
• FINDING 23: Many stakeholders in the events sector welcomed the financial support that has been provided by the Victorian Government. However, the sector broadly believes that more needs to be done to:
  • provide targeted support to ensure its ongoing viability • ensure businesses affected by future restrictions are supported
  • identify and support those who did not receive support, such as some sole traders.
    • Recommendation 14: That the Victorian Government advocate to the Commonwealth Government for the resumption of the JobKeeper Payment scheme, or a similar form of wage subsidy, for industries that continue to face significant COVID-19 restrictions on their business and employment activity, such as the events sector.
    • Rationale: The Commonwealth Government’s decision to end JobKeeper was based on macroeconomic conditions that do not reflect the ongoing economic challenges the events sector is enduring.

This report and its findings will now be presented to the Parliament Of Victoria. The State Government then has up to six months to respond to the findings in writing while also indicating "whether it supports the Committee’s recommendation and can also "outline actions it may take".

Read the full report here.