By: Christie Eliezer
Live Sector Calls For Extension Of Jobkeeper Subsidy Scheme
Dean OrmstonThe live sector is calling on the Australian government to extend its Jobkeeper subsidy scheme for its members. Introduced March 2020, it offered pandemic affected companies A$1,500 ($1,157) per fortnight for each employee. In September, it was extended it to end of March 2021 at a cost of A$100 billion ($77.1 billion).
The sector, which relied heavily on the subsidies for its survival, argues it is unable to restart trading following COVID-19 outbreaks, quarantine breaches and sudden state border closures.
“(These) mean that any local live music events and national touring is impossible to plan. Hospitality and tourism dollars generated from our sector remain stifled. We are an industry in crisis,” said Dean Ormston, chief executive of APRA AMCOS, a major rights association which includes the Live Music Office.