Melbourne and Sydney (25 June, 2020) – The Live Entertainment Industry Forum (LEIF), which represents Australia’s largest live event businesses, welcomes the Federal Government’s $250 million creative economy package today as it continues to work with Federal, State and Territory Governments to brings fans and jobs back safely to live entertainment and sport.
LEIF applauded the Government in particular for its $75 million seed investment to reactivate productions and tours, the $90 million it has pledged in concessional show starter loans, and its commitment to a roadmap to recovery for the sector, but acknowledged that there is still a long way to go until the show can get back on the road and events become economically viable for the sector.
Live Entertainment Industry Forum (LEIF) Chair James Sutherland: “Today’s announcement by the Morrison Government is a great start to getting the sector back on track. I thank the PM for recognising the serious business of entertainment that employs hundreds of thousands of jobs and makes a significant contribution to the Australian way of life.
“We particularly welcome the Government’s commitment to provide capital to help production and event businesses to put on new festivals, concerts, tours and events as social distancing restrictions ease, as well as the work with the Australia Council to develop broader guidelines for the arts and entertainment sector to protect the public and workers.
“We also applaud the Prime Minister’s decision to seek approval from National Cabinet to give the entertainment industry greater certainty about the timetable for us to be able to re-activate our businesses. While we greatly appreciate the support package, this certainly is even more important for us to get the sector truly back on track.
“LEIF is working with the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee to develop nationally approved high-level principles for a safe return to live entertainment and sport at large venues. LEIF is also working with State and Territory Governments’ Chief Health Officers to tailor those principles to meet each State and Territory’s needs.
“Through this unprecedented collaboration across live entertainment and sport we are committed to delivering COVIDSafe live events and sport. We welcome the Government’s support for both the live entertainment and live sport sectors as we push ahead with these plans.”
LEIF’s mission is to support the COVIDSafe reactivation of events with live audiences across Australia as restrictions are eased from July. LEIF will put in place a comprehensive, flexible, all-of-industry re-opening and risk management strategy that meets the needs of the public, Governments, sporting bodies, venues, performers and industry, with safety at its core. LEIF will develop industry-wide measures regarding cleaning and sanitisation, crowd management, physical distancing plans, health monitoring and contact tracing.
LEIF has been formed by Australia’s biggest Promoters of Entertainment and Sport, Venue Managers, and Key Peak Bodies. LEIF’s executive committee includes the bosses of TEG, Live Nation, Frontier Touring, Chugg Entertainment, AEG Presents, WME, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Sydney Cricket Ground, Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Olympic Parks, Adelaide Oval, ASM Global, Venues West, Venues Live, Stadiums Queensland, Michael Cassel Group, Live Performance Australia, Venue Management Association and the Australian Festivals Association (full executive committee list in Notes to Editors below).
The Forum is working in conjunction with governments, sporting bodies, venues and audiences to build confidence in the industry’s preparedness to operate safely, flexibly and sustainably and explore how industry can be supported by Governments during its gradual return.
The cultural, creative and sports industries support the livelihoods of around 175,000 Australians, many of whom are casual or part time. The industry also contributes an estimated $150 billion to the Australian economy*. Our live events have a huge economic flow on effect: we support jobs in airlines and other transport companies, hotels, pubs, restaurants and retail establishments of all sizes all over Australia.
For more information about the Live Entertainment Industry Forum, please visit our website here: www.leif.net.au.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Assets
Media assets (logo, infographic, headshots) available via Box here.
About James Sutherland
James Sutherland is the immediate past CEO of Cricket Australia having concluded in October 2018 after 17 years leading the national umbrella body responsible for the administration of the sport.
James played a key role in the leading on and off-field professionalism of cricket, steering major reforms in its governance and financial model, driving significant revenue and participation growth, increasing the focus on cricket as a sport for women and girls, and launching new initiatives such as the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash League which has been successful in bringing new fans to cricket.
He was a board member of the Local Organising Committee responsible for staging of the 2015 ICC World Cup - and continues today as a board member for the ICC T20 World Cup 2020.
James had previously chaired an industry body, having been the inaugural Chairman of COMPPS – the Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (whose board comprises the CEOs of Cricket, AFL, ARU, NRL, FFA, Netball and Tennis) - serving in that role for 10 years to 2018.
In addition to the T20 World Cup, some of his other responsibilities include being a Director of the Geelong Football Club and sitting on the Deakin University Business School Advisory Board.
LEIF Executive Committee Members
- Andrew Daniels, CEO, Adelaide Oval SMA
- Daryl Kerry, CEO, ANZ Stadium, Venues Live
- David Etherton, CEO, Venues West
- Dion Brant, COO, Frontier Touring/Chugg Entertainment/AEG Presents
- Evelyn Richardson, CEO, Live Performance Australia
- Geoff Jones, CEO, TEG
- Harvey Lister, Chairman and Chief Executive, ASM Global
- John Harnden, Chief Executive, Melbourne & Olympic Parks
- Julia Robinson, CEO, Australian Festival Association
- Kerrie Mather, CEO, SCG Trust
- Michael Cassel, CEO/Producer, Michael Cassel Group
- Roger Field, CEO, Live Nation Australasia
- Steve Harper, Chair, Venue Management Association
- Stuart Fox, CEO, Melbourne Cricket Club/Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Todd Harris, CEO, Stadiums Queensland
- Travis Auld, Chief Financial Officer and General Manager of Clubs and Broadcasting, AFL
MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Jackie Antas
M: +61 422 168 444
E: Jackie.antas@livenation.com.au
Dominic White
M: +61 439 269 615
E: dominic.white@teg.com.au