Senate debates Motions

JobKeeper Payment: Arts and Entertainment Industry


Sarah Hanson-Young

Sarah Hanson-Young SA, Australian Greens

4:52 pm

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

  (i) it has almost been one year since COVID-19 physical distancing rules effectively shut down the arts and entertainment industry overnight,

  (ii) hundreds of thousands of workers in the arts and entertainment industry have been impacted, as well as those in industries which rely on a thriving arts sector, like accommodation, hospitality and tourism,

  (iii) the industry is still in crisis, with international and domestic border restrictions and social distancing rules impacting its ability to operate at full capacity and many people remain out of work, and

  (iv) the arts and entertainment sector contributes about $15 billion annually to the Australian economy; and

(b) calls on the Morrison Government to:

  (i) extend JobKeeper beyond 28 March 2021; and

  (ii) provide an industry-specific recovery package for the arts and entertainment industry of the quantum actually required to save jobs and a generation of arts and entertainment workers.

Jonathon Duniam

Jonathon Duniam Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan

Scott Ryan President

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam

Jonathon Duniam Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries

The JobKeeper package was announced as a temporary measure intended to end in March 2021. The government's $250 million Creative Economy JobMaker Package will continue rolling out through the $75 million RISE fund. We've announced $60 million of successful batch 1 recipients and we'll start seeing the projects commence from this month. The outcome of the second batch of RISE applicants is expected to be announced in late March 2021. Over the next year government supported productions, festivals and concerts will fill our stages and our theatres.

Scott Ryan

Scott Ryan President

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 1022 be agreed to.