NSW Labor swings behind music industry’s #votemusic campaign: “To save music in NSW we need to change the government.”

NSW Labor has swung its support behind the music industry’s #votemusic campaign for before the March 23 election.

As reported by TMN yesterday, the campaign was launched by the Australian Festival Association with Live Performance Australia, APRA AMCOS, Live Music Office, Music NSW, ARIA and PPCA.

Music industry social media pages changed their profile pictures to post images of static and white noise.

John Graham, shadow minister for music said: “Labor supports the #votemusic campaign.

“This campaign is a glimpse of the future of the NSW music scene – static and white noise.

“To save music in NSW we need to change the government.”

Labor has announced that in government it will scrap the existing festival regulation and immediately consult with the Australian Festivals Association and relevant government agencies about the future of the licensing regime.

It has announced $4 million support for festivals in NSW, and its support for a streamlined licensing and multi-year approvals for festivals with a good track record.

This is a part of Labor’s $35 million package to support the music sector, which includes $11.5 million of direct funding for artists and the industry, $3 million to keep venues open, $10 million to create a home for music in NSW, and a plan to rebuild the touring circuit across suburban and regional NSW.

https://www.facebook.com/johngrahamalp/videos/413112615923299/

On Sunday, at a policy launch, Graham declared: “The Liberals and Nationals have launched a war on young people.

“These new festival rules specifically single out 18—29 year olds.

“The government os making young people a scapegoat for society’s issues.

“They risk leaving young people feeling more alienated than they do, from politics, from society.

“Labor will not support a war on young people!”

Yesterday Labor NSW leader Michael Daley went on Kyle and Jackie O’s radio show to explain that appointing Graham as music and night time minister was to stop the closure of music venues.

“175 venues have closed in the last four years,” he pointed out.

'We've got a huge music & night time economy package' @michaeldaleymp pic.twitter.com/y1T6KLPBsB

— Kyle and Jackie O (@kyleandjackieo) March 11, 2019

A Labor government will not eradicate the lockout laws. Instead, Daley said, they would be reviewed.

Before that, “in the short term, we can reward well behaved venues with some exemptions and stuff like that.”