Where Are The Budget's Jobs & Growth For Live Music Industry?

It's been suggested that the 2016 budget released last night has made no attempt to assist the arts sector and Live Performance Australia (LPA) have slammed the outcome, insisting that contrary to the government's mantra of delivering jobs and growth, it has severely stunted progress of the industry. 

"This budget is supposed to be focused on jobs and growth. But the live performance industry and the broader arts industry are completely missing from the Government’s vision for the Australian economy," LPA Chief Executive Evelyn Richardson said. 

"This budget fails to deliver jobs and growth for our industry. It fails to deliver any major new policy initiatives or programs."

Richardson's comments come just weeks after the LPA urged the government to give back funds cut from last year's budget. 

"The Government must commit to return the $72.8 million over four years it took from the Australia Council last year so that our major funding body can deliver its strategic plan, including investing in the small to medium sector," Richardson continued. 

"While we were pleased to see the government respond to our call to ensure catalyst funding was fully committed for 2015/16 and welcome yesterday’s announcement of grant recipients, this does not address in any way the imminent threat of significant job losses and the demise of core companies that are critical to our industry.

"We were also disappointed to note that funding will not be continued for Sounds Australia which supports our local music industry overseas."

LPA President Andrew Kay described the 2016 budget as a "full scale cull".

"We are very concerned that due to unprecedented funding cuts to the Australia Council last year, the legacy of the 2015 budget will become very real next week when the Australia Council makes its funding announcements," Kay said.

"We expect to see 40 percent of our small to medium companies lose funding and face going under. That’s 18 to 20 companies that won’t be creating new productions, hundreds of creative and talented Australians out of work and lost revenue.

"These cuts will have huge flow on effects impacting all parts of our industry including the major performing arts companies, venues, festivals and the commercial sector. We are particularly concerned about losing our creative and technical talent who may be forced to go offshore for work and career development opportunities."

The Music has reached out to the Liberal, Labor and Greens parties for further comment.