Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed that the Government's plan to support arts and entertainment workers through the COVID pandemic will be announced next month.
As The Guardian reports, Morrison said Government is working on their response "right now" just days after confirming he had met with groups within the entertainment industry.
"It’s good to see that in parts of the country they’re opening up again and people are getting back to their employment coming in and they’re in a better position than they were back in March when we set that program up. There are many others that aren’t in that position," Morrison said.
"If we go into the creative and entertainment industries, they have seen no change and that’s not surprising, given the social distancing rules that apply.
"So we [are examining] and targeting how we’re going to provide that support and we’re working on those responses right now and we’ll announce them in July."
It's understood a cross section of industry executives were present at the meeting with Morrison, including the newly-formed Live Entertainment Industry Forum (LEIF) executive committee and ARIA CEO Dan Rosen.
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance CEO Paul Murphy appeared at a Senate inquiry today calling for urgent assistance from Government for the sector affected by the pandemic.
"Many businesses will not survive, a generation of creative workers will be lost to the industry, and our country will be immeasurably poorer for all of that," Murphy told the inquiry.
Australian industry legend Michael Chugg has predicted that, due to Australia's borders likely remaining closed for the remainder of 2020, it is unlikely overseas acts will be able to tour the country until June next year.
Meanwhile, live music venues, pubs and nightclubs in WA will return from Saturday with the state confirming it will enter Phase 4 of eased restrictions.
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