'Venues Risk Closure' - Today's Easing Of NSW Restrictions Still Not Enough

New South Wales will see more COVID restrictions eased next week but NSW Shadow Minister for Music and the Night Time Economy John Graham  says live music venues are still at risk. 

As ABC reports, from 12.01am on Monday 29 March, restrictions on activities like singing and dancing will be removed, however the one per two square metre rule will remain in place.

While the announcement confirmed that entertainment venues and theatres can return to 100% seated capacity, because of the complexity of licencing laws, for many music venues this rule will not apply.

Graham has again called on the Government to provide a financial support package for NSW music venues before JobKeeper payments cease on Sunday.

"JobKeeper finishes on Sunday, rental moratoriums are ending, and venues still can’t operate at full capacity," Graham said.

“These are government restrictions – important Government restrictions – but venues have had no NSW Government support.

"We are calling on the Government to get moving and take this final opportunity to act before it’s too late.

"There is a very real deadline for a financial support package if we want to stop venues from closing permanently.”

Earlier this month, Graham pressed Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres about providing a financial package for the NSW live music scene, with Ayres confirming that an application for a package is "currently being assessed" by Treasury.