❓ Mr Catania asks the Premier about a government-backed events cancellation insurance fund due to COVID-19 related cancellations. The Premier acknowledges the issue is being investigated and highlights existing support initiatives for the events industry.
AnsweredQoN 72Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — EVENT CANCELLATION INSURANCE FUND
72. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Premier:
I refer to calls from industry for a
government-backed events cancellation insurance fund amid growing concerns
about the future of festivals and events in WA.
(1) Is the
Premier aware that more than 500 events and festivals had to be cancelled at
short notice following the Anzac weekend lockdown directives?
(2) Is the
Premier aware that event organisers behind events like the Bindoon Show and
other community events have made the decision to cancel 2021 shows due to
ongoing instability and uncertainty?
(3) Has the
Premier sought advice on the COVID-19 event cancellation insurance fund, as it
was reported that he would in The West Australian of 28 April?
72. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Premier:
I refer to calls from industry for a
government-backed events cancellation insurance fund amid growing concerns
about the future of festivals and events in WA.
(1) Is the
Premier aware that more than 500 events and festivals had to be cancelled at
short notice following the Anzac weekend lockdown directives?
(2) Is the
Premier aware that event organisers behind events like the Bindoon Show and
other community events have made the decision to cancel 2021 shows due to
ongoing instability and uncertainty?
(3) Has the
Premier sought advice on the COVID-19 event cancellation insurance fund, as it
was reported that he would in The West Australian of 28 April?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. We are
investigating this issue. I just want to make a few points. A whole
range of events are still going on in Western Australia. Indeed, last year we
were the first state to reopen, if you like, to allow for events, functions and
activities to go ahead. All of that activity went on here before anywhere else.
As I said repeatedly in response to opposition questions last year, the best
thing we can do for the events industry is to have events, and we were able to
do that. Treasury is currently considering the matter of an events fund. Having
said that, a range of support initiatives were taken to assist the events
industry.
A program was launched by the
Minister for Culture and the Arts to allow for rental fee waivers, and I think last year we also brought in an
underwriting scheme for a range of events. Both of them have received hundreds of applications, and $15 million was
allocated to the Getting the Show back on the Road program , including a venue
fee waiver and a shared risk program. So, in effect, we have already done this,
and I do not think that has been widely acknowledged. That was part of our
recovery plan last year.
The
other parts of the recovery plan included the upgrade of Perth Concert Hall and
His Majesty's Theatre . There was also an allocation of $6 million
to the Holocaust education centre and museum in Yokine. There was $15 million
for Getting the Show back on the Road; from memory, $20 million or thereabouts
for a program that supports regional arts and concerts and the like, which is
rolling out; the $5 million Lotterywest
investment in the Creative Communities COVID-19 Recovery artist-in-residence
program; we allocated $2 million towards the Aboriginal cultural centre; and a range
of other programs around the state.
Obviously, COVID-19 is not easy. The
member mentioned a Mingenew event. Events may not go ahead because the
organisers do not want to put in COVID-19 plans, or whatever the case might be,
but we will work as best we can with event organisers to make sure that they
happen.
investigating this issue. I just want to make a few points. A whole
range of events are still going on in Western Australia. Indeed, last year we
were the first state to reopen, if you like, to allow for events, functions and
activities to go ahead. All of that activity went on here before anywhere else.
As I said repeatedly in response to opposition questions last year, the best
thing we can do for the events industry is to have events, and we were able to
do that. Treasury is currently considering the matter of an events fund. Having
said that, a range of support initiatives were taken to assist the events
industry.
A program was launched by the
Minister for Culture and the Arts to allow for rental fee waivers, and I think last year we also brought in an
underwriting scheme for a range of events. Both of them have received hundreds of applications, and $15 million was
allocated to the Getting the Show back on the Road program , including a venue
fee waiver and a shared risk program. So, in effect, we have already done this,
and I do not think that has been widely acknowledged. That was part of our
recovery plan last year.
The
other parts of the recovery plan included the upgrade of Perth Concert Hall and
His Majesty's Theatre . There was also an allocation of $6 million
to the Holocaust education centre and museum in Yokine. There was $15 million
for Getting the Show back on the Road; from memory, $20 million or thereabouts
for a program that supports regional arts and concerts and the like, which is
rolling out; the $5 million Lotterywest
investment in the Creative Communities COVID-19 Recovery artist-in-residence
program; we allocated $2 million towards the Aboriginal cultural centre; and a range
of other programs around the state.
Obviously, COVID-19 is not easy. The
member mentioned a Mingenew event. Events may not go ahead because the
organisers do not want to put in COVID-19 plans, or whatever the case might be,
but we will work as best we can with event organisers to make sure that they
happen.
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