Lucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Live music is set to be reignited on the Central Coast with two venues in my electorate of Robertson being supported as part of round 3 of the more than $2.5 million Live Music program. This program is all about helping venues to reopen and rebuild following the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it's going to mean that Australian artists can get back on stage. Avoca Beach picture theatre, iconic in our community, and Hardy's Bay RSL & Citizens Club have received around $52,000 for upgrades to their facilities and the purchase of new equipment. This funding brings the government's total investment in this program to more than $8 million, which will support over 300 live music venues and the recovery and sustainability of the sector. The Morrison government is also investing more than a billion dollars into the art and creative sector in 2021-22. Norm and Beth Hunter from Avoca Beach picture theatre said that they are excited because this grant is really about community building. 'While the money will go towards improving the presentation of live music at our venue, it also enables us to establish a country and local music scene. We really want to build a live music culture again and bring the Central Coast community together.' I couldn't agree more with Norm and Beth Hunter. I'm told that the theatre will be hosting a number of well-known artists over the coming weeks, including Amber Lawrence, Gina Jeffreys and Adam Harvey, and I thank artists and venue owners right across the coast for their resilience and wish them all the best as— (Time expired)