Victorian music industry eyes promises under new Labor Government

After four years of funding cuts, the Victorian contemporary music industry faces more opportunities under the new Labor Government, which swept into power on the weekend.

The Victorian ALP’s music and arts policy touches most bases, with a greater stress on invention, technology, and involvement with business and tourism.

Its Music Works strategy commits $22.2 million to contemporary music. It includes more funding, quick response grants, a commitment to sparking regional live music action, a hub for creative collaborations, and continued financial provision for peak music association Music Victoria. It also supports the Agent of Change introduced by the previous Government, and the need to keep assisting live music venues to survive.

The idea behind the key Creative Victoria hub is to put music, arts, technology and business firms in the same physical space to identify opportunities, particularly for investment, innovation and export.

Similarly, rather than just introducing more contemporary music in school curriculums, it also wants to introduce corporate involvement for effective employment and mentorship schemes for school-leavers wanting a career in music. Plans to celebrate the city’s music heritage will see a greater interaction with the tourism and hospitality sectors than before.

As Shadow Arts Minister (and presumably the new Arts Minister), Martin Foley’s approach to the music sector was this: “It’s dynamic and vibrant but there’s plenty more which can be done.” That approach is what the music sector will count on in the next few years.

The Greens, who on the weekend scored their first Lower House seat in Victoria, could also be allies with a music and arts policy that agreed with many of Labor’s strategies.

Two members of the rock fraternity, Tex Perkins and The Basics, also contested as independents.

Perkins’ tilt for the seat of Albert Park received a 3.59% vote…He got some bad press because he was not in Victoria on election day (he was performing in Queensland that night) and also for casting his own vote for the Greens.

The reality is that Perkins had already achieved before the polls opened what he set out to do. His single-issue campaign was about the restoration of the crumbling Palais Theatre in St. Kilda. As a result of media attention, Labor had committed funds (“up to $13.4 million”) to the venue over five years. The Greens are pushing for a total $40 million package for the Palais.

The Basics’ Rock’n’Roll Party received a 1.43% vote in the Northern Metropolitan Region. It got sixth spot in a list of 19 parties and outpolled the likes of the Liberal Democrats, Palmer United Party and Shooters and Fishers Party Victoria. Their candidate for the lower house representing Northcote, actor Jamie McCarney, got 2.59% of the vote.

The Party’s issues were outlined in TMN. In a Facebook posting, The Basics said they were proud of their achievements, not least of all a focus on the need for a more loving and fairer society.

The Basics said, “We managed to dislodge one of (Hobbit dragon) Smaug’s many hardened scales, and perhaps have contributed in some small way to the promise of a fairer Victoria, and ultimately Australia.” They told supporters, “Do not get complacent! The battle for Australia’s soul is only just beginning.”