Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): My question is for the Minister for Creative Industries. What is the latest information on what the government is doing to ensure our live music industry recovers and rebuilds from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic? The Northcote electorate is home to one of the largest live music scenes in Australia. Venues like the Northcote Social Club, the Wesley Anne and the Purple Emerald are household names, and many more venues, large and small, dot our suburbs. Live music is in our blood, and it is part of the beating heart of the inner north. The pandemic has hit us hard, and yet amidst the uncertainty musicians and artists have been there, helping us get through the isolation with love and hope and creativity. Victoria has invested over $49 million to safeguard our creative industries. Tax relief, grants and tenancy protections have helped. Yet our music industry is still under pressure, with many ineligible for the federal government’s wage subsidies and meagre support from local government.
