Music Industry

Mrs POWER (Elder) (14:16): My question is to the Minister for Innovation and Skills. Can the minister please update the house about how the Marshall Liberal government is supporting live music businesses in light of the impacts of COVID-19?

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Innovation and Skills) (14:17): I thank the member for Elder not just for her love of the finer things in life but for her interest of course in—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —the live music sector here in South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: In recognition of the significant impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on the live music industry, the Marshall government has announced a new $3 million Live Music Support Program. The program is designed to assist music businesses with the costs associated with preparing to host and deliver live music once borders reopen and restrictions are eased. It is targeted at our state's dedicated live music venues, professional touring artists, their crew and event promoters.

Through a competitive funding process, eligible live businesses will be able to apply for grants ranging from $50,000 to $300,000. The live music support package will provide up to $300,000 for eligible dedicated live music venues and music industry event promoters, if they can demonstrate a decline in income compared with pre COVID-19, and up to $50,000 for eligible South Australian-based professional touring contemporary music artists if they are in the same situation.

More details on the package will be available on the Arts South Australia and Music Development Office websites very soon. This program will enable the states live music industry to be ready to host live music once again, ensuring the home of Australia's only designated UNESCO City of Music is ready to amp up post pandemic. The program is part of a new $7 million support package for the arts and live music sector announced by the Premier just this week.

In addition to this, my department's Music Development Office will also open the November round of the project support grants. This will provide grants of up to $15,000 for artists and music businesses to develop creative IP and foster business opportunities here in South Australia and beyond. Of course, we are very keen to see our young musicians in particular have a great start back after the lockdowns that we have all experienced. Of course, a total of $200,000 is available in this round.

Applications for both programs open this Friday 29 October, and these programs add a further $3.2 million in funding to the previous $3.2 million that has already been provided to the South Australian music industry. That is $6.4 million since the pandemic began.