3 years ago
CORMANN ADDS INSULT TO INJURY FOR ARTS WORKERS
TONY BURKE MP
The Morrison Government has completely abandoned arts and entertainment workers during the coronavirus crisis. Now it’s trying to make the outrageous claim they’re not eligible for support because they’re not suffering enough.
On ABC radio today Finance Minister Mathias Cormann made the ridiculous and insulting claim that arts and entertainment workers were missing out on JobKeeper because they “can’t demonstrate that they’ve had relevant falls in their revenue”.
Earth to the Minister: the arts and entertainment industry has been shut down.
These workers watched their incomes evaporate and job opportunities disappear as gigs were cancelled, shows were scrapped, galleries were closed down and productions were halted in the early days of this crisis.
They’re not missing out because they can’t demonstrate a drop in revenue. They’re missing out because the Government designed JobKeeper in a way that deliberately excludes them. A huge number of people in the arts and entertainment sector work gig to gig, as freelancers or as casuals on short-term contracts – so they miss out on the wage subsidy.
And it isn’t just the artists themselves who have missed out. It’s the worker holds the spotlight; who operates the camera; who builds the set; who cleans the venue. These are all workers who rely on the arts and entertainment sector and who also worked gig to gig.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg can fix this with the stroke of a pen.
But even now, after admitting they’re spending $60 billion less on supporting Australian workers through this crisis than they said they would, the Government is still doing nothing for this sector.
Not only was this sector the first to be shut down – it will be one of the last the emerge. It needs a comprehensive support package.
The one part of the industry that had a chance of returning to work early – screen production - has been cruelly held back by the Government’s suspension of screen quotas for new drama, documentary and children’s content.
These are not celebrities we’re talking about. These are mostly low-income, insecure workers who work hard to delight and entertain us.
They were there when Australia needed them, helping to raise money for bushfire relief. Australians have been relying on music, books, and Australian television and movies to help get them through isolation. This is their hour of need – but the Government has abandoned them.
On ABC radio today Finance Minister Mathias Cormann made the ridiculous and insulting claim that arts and entertainment workers were missing out on JobKeeper because they “can’t demonstrate that they’ve had relevant falls in their revenue”.
Earth to the Minister: the arts and entertainment industry has been shut down.
These workers watched their incomes evaporate and job opportunities disappear as gigs were cancelled, shows were scrapped, galleries were closed down and productions were halted in the early days of this crisis.
They’re not missing out because they can’t demonstrate a drop in revenue. They’re missing out because the Government designed JobKeeper in a way that deliberately excludes them. A huge number of people in the arts and entertainment sector work gig to gig, as freelancers or as casuals on short-term contracts – so they miss out on the wage subsidy.
And it isn’t just the artists themselves who have missed out. It’s the worker holds the spotlight; who operates the camera; who builds the set; who cleans the venue. These are all workers who rely on the arts and entertainment sector and who also worked gig to gig.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg can fix this with the stroke of a pen.
But even now, after admitting they’re spending $60 billion less on supporting Australian workers through this crisis than they said they would, the Government is still doing nothing for this sector.
Not only was this sector the first to be shut down – it will be one of the last the emerge. It needs a comprehensive support package.
The one part of the industry that had a chance of returning to work early – screen production - has been cruelly held back by the Government’s suspension of screen quotas for new drama, documentary and children’s content.
These are not celebrities we’re talking about. These are mostly low-income, insecure workers who work hard to delight and entertain us.
They were there when Australia needed them, helping to raise money for bushfire relief. Australians have been relying on music, books, and Australian television and movies to help get them through isolation. This is their hour of need – but the Government has abandoned them.