Supporting the Arts Industry

Mr GORMAN (Perth): I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that Australia's arts sector is an essential part of our economy, our community and our identity;

(2) recognises that the impacts of coronavirus COVID-19 has destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of working artists in a diverse range of arts including, but not limited to, performers, writers, designers, illustrators, musicians, fine artists, filmmakers and children's entertainers;

(3) further notes that many of the existing support mechanisms, including Jobkeeper and Jobseeker, do not recognise the unique needs or economics of the arts sector;

(4) believes that protecting our arts sector now is vital for Australia to achieve a sustainable economic recovery from COVID19; and

(5) calls on the national cabinet to work urgently in collaboration with the arts sector to:

(a) enact a tailored package of support to the arts sector;

(b) ensure that working artists are able to access appropriate income support; and

(c) consider how commonwealth, state, territory and local governments can assist the arts sector for the medium to long term economic impacts of COVID-19.

Australia without an arts sector is a country without character, without a story. Arts is the sector, but today we're talking about the people—the artists, the musicians, the writers, the designers, the illustrators, the children's entertainers, and, as well, the catering staff, and the technical support staff, the back-of-house staff, that make the stage come to life. This year, we, in this place, treated our artists worse than we have in any other year since Federation, with JobKeeper denied to hundreds of thousands; JobSeeker to be cut in just a few short months; the Commonwealth arts department effectively abolished; support packages too little and too late.

Our artists were among the first to have their livelihoods hit by the pandemic and they will be some of the last to recover. While we didn't have breakouts of mass COVID in Perth, we did have the recession. Four thousand, six hundred and sixty-three people in my electorate rely on the arts and creative industries for their employment— six per cent of the total jobs in Perth. The Australia Council for the Arts records some 2,055 cultural and creative industries and businesses in Perth alone.

It's six months since I first moved this motion, and, sadly, despite moving it six months ago and calling for urgent cooperative action from national cabinet, this motion still rings true. Arts are an essential part of our economy. Six hundred thousand of our fellow Australians work in the creative and cultural sector: $117 billion of economic output. We know that, in Perth, the arts are key to our city and to our suburbs. Vibrant, active, safe and beautiful suburbs all rely on the arts.

There have been two recessions in my lifetime, one under Labor and now one under the Liberal Party. While the government stood in this place on budget night and said: 'Mission accomplished; it's all on the up,' I don't think the arts sector believed that for a second. It was more of the same and not enough from this government when it comes to arts support. Even with the packages they have announced, the photo ops have been there but the money has still not gone out the door.

I know this, because I've met with many, many arts and event-industry businesses in my electorate over recent months. Audio Technik is one of the best sound delivery businesses in Australia. You can't have Taylor Swift at Optus Stadium without Audio Technik. There's the Astor Theatre. If you are a performer, this is the best theatre.

You can't have Elvis impersonators—and I've seen an Elvis impersonator at the Astor Theatre—in Western Australia without the Astor Theatre. I met with the West Australian Ballet; the AWESOME Festival; Perth Arena; Matrix Productions—and a shout-out to Darryl and the team at Matrix. I met with Indigenous theatre company Yirra Yaakin; the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance; the Perth fringe festival; Barking Gecko; RTRFM; the Chamber of Arts and Culture Western Australia. I even got to have a chat to Aurelio Costarella, someone I had never heard of at the start of this year. He is an amazing Perth constituent who has made some of the most beautiful dresses that have ever been worn anywhere in this country. They are all different businesses, but they are all still feeling the impacts of this recession. Even the Bluey stage musical has had to be delayed at Burswood theatre.

I asked my community on Facebook what they wanted me to say to the government in this place. Christina said, 'Remind them that the arts are the face and culture of Australia.' Monica O'Neil asked me to say, 'The arts sector brings the heart and soul of our community to life.' Andrew Pearce is worried about Australian content. He fears 'a world where there are no more Aussie kids shows—instead just a truckload of imported stuff that doesn't represent who we are as a country.'

I want to finish by saying an arts education is a quality education. Time and time again this government has tried to punish the arts. Two weeks ago we saw whacked through this place the job-ready graduates legislation—I think it's coming back today—more than doubling the cost of an arts degree. At the same time that they're doubling the cost of an arts degree, they are building what I must say is a very beautiful $600 million-plus Edith Cowan University Perth city campus in my electorate. But the students who go there are going to pay 113 per cent more for their degrees. So, again, it is disrespecting those who want to dedicate their lives to the arts.

I'll finish by thanking our artists. You've given us hope in a miserable year. You've begun capturing this moment in history. You've helped people grieve and helped people find joy. Hopefully, we will soon help you.