Australian musicians will benefit from better support and increased investment under Albanese Labor Government legislation introduced into Parliament today.
Creative workers will also benefit from better conditions and safer workplaces under the changes that implement key commitments in Revive, Australia’s new National Cultural Policy.
The Creative Australia Bill 2023 establishes two new bodies within Creative Australia, the new name for the Government’s principal arts investment and advisory body.
Music Australia will deliver targeted support and investment to empower Australia’s contemporary music industry to rebuild and realise its local and global potential.
Backed by more than $69 million in funding over four years, the creation of Music Australia responds directly to calls for change from the sector – delivering dedicated support to grow Australia’s contemporary music industry.
It will grow the market for contemporary Australian music, deliver song writing and recording initiatives in schools, support industry professionals to learn business and management skills, and provide central coordination around access to live music venues for bands and solo artists.
The other new body will be Creative Workplaces – which will raise and set workplace standards across all art forms, with organisations seeking federal Government funding being expected to adhere to these standards.
The legislation also establishes the governing Board for Creative Australia, which will continue to be known as the Australia Council Board.
Arts Minister Tony Burke said the changes lay the foundation for revitalisation of Australia’s arts and culture set out in Revive.
“This legislation brings drive, direction and vision back to the Australian arts industry.
“Australia’s artists and creatives are essential workers. They deserve safe workplaces and fair pay, like any other worker. Creative Workplaces will ensure that.
“Contemporary music in Australia has been ignored by government for too long. Music Australia will change that. We want to make sure that the soundtrack to life in Australia has contemporary Australian music there for every single beat.”
Future legislation will embed a First Nations led body within Creative Australia and also establish Writer’s Australia.
CEO of the Australia Council Adrian Collette said: “This is a historic moment for the Australia Council, which has a 50-year legacy of supporting arts and culture in Australia, including investment in First Nations’ arts and creative practice.
“Creative Australia will be a bigger and bolder champion and investor, bringing together public and private partnerships for maximum impact.
“With artists at the heart of all we do, Creative Australia will invest to build audiences and marketplaces for Australian stories to be shared on a national and international scale, to connect us, and bring our rich culture to the world.”
Backed by $286 million in dedicated funding over four years, Revive is breathing new life into this $17 billion industry – which employs an estimated 400,000 Australians – after a lost decade of federal policy drift and funding neglect.
To read the National Cultural Policy in full, visit: www.arts.gov.au/culturalpolicy
