We’ve just found out why no one even knows whether they are even eligible for the so-called support package for arts and entertainment workers. The guidelines brief is still sitting on the Minister’s desk waiting for his signature.
A thread 👇🏼
A thread 👇🏼
This is a sector that was almost completely shut down by Government decisions in March. But for three months they insisted the sector - which employs hundreds of thousands of people - was getting enough support and didn’t need a rescue package.
That eventually became untenable. So after more than 100 days of dithering they finally announced a $250m support package on June 25.
The package has some problems but Labor welcomed the extra investment. The sector needs all the support it can get.
But more than six weeks later, nothing has happened. Not a dollar has been spent. No guidelines for the grants and loans have been released. No one knows whether they will even be eligible to apply.
We asked the Office of the Arts about the delay in a Senate committee yesterday. They told us they had finished the guidelines - and were waiting on Minister Paul Fletcher to approve them.
While the sector is desperately waiting for help the guidelines are sitting on the minister’s desk just waiting for his signature. No worries minister, it’s not like it’s urgent or anything.
Once the guidelines are approved it could take another 12 weeks until any grants or loans are approved. That means November.
So, November.....
That is eight months after this crisis began and this entire sector was almost completely shut down.
That is eight months after this crisis began and this entire sector was almost completely shut down.
This is sadly typical of this Government: the delivery never matches the announcement, the reality never matches the promise. Australia’s arts and entertainment sector workers deserve much better than this.
