Industry Press / 03.25.21

The Live Entertainment Industry Forum Welcomes Federal Government's $135M Increase in Funding and Pledges to work with Governments to Lead the World in Touring.

Australia (25 March 2021) – The Live Entertainment Industry Forum (LEIF) welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement today of $125 million in new RISE funding plus an additional $10 million for Support Act and has pledged to work with the Government and National Cabinet to make Australia lead the world in international and domestic touring.

A boost to the RISE program will give a welcome and targeted stimulus to the live entertainment sector, which has lost 86pc of its jobs and is facing the end of the Government’s JobKeeper wage subsidy in a week’s time, amid a challenging landscape for touring with different capacities allowed by States and Territories for live events and risks of snap lockdowns continuing.

Geoff Jones, LEIF Co-Chair and CEO of TEG, said: “We commend the Federal Government wholeheartedly for this package and its recognition that our industry just wants to get back to business. The Government’s boost to the RISE funding will play an important role in enabling us to do that, along with its welcome boost to Support Act to help some of the most vulnerable people in our industry through what continues to be an extremely challenging time. Our next step is to work with The Federal Government, State & Territory Governments and National Cabinet to enable Australia to lead the world in live entertainment.”

Roger Field, President & CEO of Live Nation Asia Pacific, said: “We welcome the package announced today and commend the Federal Government for giving the industry the time to make its case. Our next step is to work with all Governments to enable 100% venue capacities, bring leading international touring artists into the country and enable them and domestic artists to plan national tours so we can plot a path back to growth that benefits the Australian economy, and the wellbeing of the Australian public, which loves live entertainment.”

MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Dominic White
M: +61 439 269 615
E: dominic.white@teg.com.au

Jackie Antas
M: +61 422 168 444
E: Jackie.antas@livenation.com.au

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