Music Industry

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:10): My question is to the Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation. Can the minister inform the council about what the government is doing to support industry development for the music sector; and, minister, will you inform the council about the debate that you and the Hon. Tammy Franks participated in last night and its relevance to the music industry?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for his question and his exceptionally longstanding interest and involvement in the music industry in South Australia. I do not agree with the proposition that some have put to me that he is not a musician because he is a drummer; I think that is false and that is not a fair thing to say. Drummers are musicians and I support that entirely!

It is a very important question. Music has long been an exceptionally important part of South Australia's cultural identity. In recognition of this, in December 2015 Adelaide received the prestigious three-year designation as a UNESCO City of Music. This places South Australia alongside 19 other international cities noted for their musical excellence. While music is often noted for its cultural contribution, it also needs to be recognised that it has distinct economic value, and this focus was acknowledged by UNESCO when awarding the City of Music designation.

For example, the University of Tasmania's report, The Economic and Cultural Value of Live Music in Australia, found that live music spending in Australia delivers a 3:1 benefit to cost ratio and in 2014 contributed some $263 million to the South Australian economy. The Music Development Office (the MDO) is the government's dedicated office to support the development of the music sector. It is a collaboration between Arts SA and the Industry and Innovation Division of the Department of State Development and it intersects with other government agencies such as Events SA and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

The MDO facilitates a variety of initiatives aimed at supporting industry growth, activation, capability development, entrepreneurship and regulatory reform, and I know that on a number of occasions when I have had events or meetings at the Music Development Office, I have come across the Hon. John Gazzola helping the industry and liaising with people involved in the industry. A notable current initiative supported by the Music Development Office that aims to activate the city and support entrepreneurs and build capacity is Umbrella Winter City Sounds. The state government has partnered with Music SA to deliver this new series of events that runs from 15 July to 7 August, that includes an impressive 260 gigs across 60 venues with some 400 performers.

As part of the program, Music SA commissioned 18 entrepreneurs to showcase live music during winter in order to develop industry capacity amongst the future generation of festival and event managers. They attended workshops to learn about logistics, marketing, budgeting and promotion and were provided with the toolkit of merchandising and marketing materials. Many of the entrepreneurs chose to activate unusual places with live music, including car parks, laneways, trams, food courts and the Zoo, to name a few.

We also recently saw the release of the 2016 Adelaide Live Music Census. The census, which offers a snapshot of live music activity in Adelaide and outer suburbs, has found that both the number of gigs and the number of venues hosting live music increased in metropolitan Adelaide in May 2016, compared with May 2015. The census will be repeated in May next year, and the Music Development Office expects that the regulatory changes will have a further positive impact on the live music scene in Australia.

Very briefly, the second part of the honourable member's question related to an event that is occurring this weekend. The Hon. Tammy Franks, through a motion last year, informed the chamber about the fantastic work of the Reclink organisation that provides particularly music and sporting opportunities for Australians facing disadvantage. I saw the results of the fundraising football match—the Community Cup that was played in Adelaide last year. I was a proud participant, and took the field with the musicians' team last year.

That event raised approximately $16,000. I have seen the great work it has done: it has bought kayaks that have been used, particularly by Aboriginal students around Murray Bridge. I have been on the kayaks on the Murray River and seen the great work, and the way that has helped Aboriginal students, particularly in that area of South Australia, to be involved in programs in which they would not otherwise have had the opportunity of being involved.

I would encourage anyone who has any interest in having fun, or seeing footy, or raising money for what is a fantastic cause, to get along to Norwood Oval at about midday this Sunday. The media team who is playing the musicians' team has the Hon. Tammy Franks as part of the coaching panel. It is a fantastic cause, and I am sure we will see more money raised and more South Australians facing disadvantage being helped. I know the Minister for Police is playing on the day, and I will be assisting Tammy in her coaching duties.