Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The arts and entertainment sector was the first to be impacted by the coronavirus restrictions and will be one of the last to return to normal. Very early on in the pandemic, Labor called on the government to provide support. However, it took more than 100 days after that call for the government to act at all. For months, Scott Morrison and his ministers stubbornly insisted that it wasn't necessary, that somehow an industry that had been completely shut down by coronavirus restrictions didn't need any extra assistance or support. Then, after seven long months, the government finally relented and announced its support package for the arts. But it was full of holes, and it took many more months again for the emergency funding to even start flowing.

Now is the time to be properly funding and supporting the arts, our artists and, indeed, this industry. There are excellent projects in Newcastle, which this government should be supporting right now, which are ready to be started straightaway.

It's great to see that the Morrison government has finally realised the value of regional art galleries and has recently funded the Rockhampton Art Gallery for $10 million under the Building Better Regions Fund and the Cairns Art Gallery for $10 million under the Regional Recovery Partnerships program. The City of Newcastle has also applied for $10 million under both of these funding streams. This is a modest request of the Commonwealth by the City of Newcastle for a priority project that is costed at $35.6 million in total. The expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery has been a shovel-ready project for many years. We just need the Commonwealth to get on board. The Newcastle Art Gallery has tremendous social, cultural and economic value. This expansion project will create an estimated 170 jobs as well as significantly increase visitor numbers to Newcastle and the Hunter region. I've long been an advocate for this project, and I again offer my full support to the Newcastle Art Gallery expansion project. This is a terrific project deserving of this government's full support.

Another exciting project in my electorate that has also applied for the Building Better Regions Fund is the Victoria Theatre. The Victoria Theatre, opened in 1891, is New South Wales's oldest heritage theatre. The theatre closed in 1966, but, excitingly, the Next Century trust are hoping to reopen the doors of this irreplaceable cultural asset. The construction of the project will generate up to 45 jobs, with a further 165 ongoing hospitality and creative jobs. It's predicted that, within three years of beginning operation, the theatre will deliver $50 million in economic benefit. Newcastle and the Hunter region have been alive with the possibility that the glorious Victoria Theatre may once again enrich the cultural and artistic life of Newcastle and the Hunter. There is a huge amount of community support for this project, and again I strongly urge the Commonwealth government to commit to funding the creative soul of our region

If the government are serious about their belated interest in the arts with the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand Fund, or RISE, then they need to be backing in projects like the Carrington music festival and the Edwards street festival, which have both made applications for that fund. The Edwards street festival, due to take place in March 2022, is a bespoke music and arts curated festival taking place in and around the Edwards bar and restaurant and its adjacent streets. It will play on the precinct's burgeoning and evolving arts and creative scene and will feature live music from Australia's best emerging artists, in addition to well-loved and popular Australian artists. The Carrington music festival will sit within the City of Newcastle's flagship arts festival New Annual in their 2020 program, featuring a mix of international and domestic touring artists. Both of these festivals will be a massive boost to the local economy and will provide much-needed support for Australian musicians.

On top of the live music, I'd also like to give a big shout-out to the From A Distance Sessions, or FAD Sessions. These are live-streamed performances from venues in Newcastle that helped keep original music and live performance alive during the pandemic. Led by Allon Silove and Joshua Barnett and run totally by volunteers, From A Distance Sessions helped musicians, dancers, comedians, entertainers and performers maintain a vibrant and current presence during COVID.

For many artists and entertainers, recovery is still a long way away. Labor won't forget you, and we'll continue to advocate to get you the support you need and deserve.

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