Justine Elliot (Richmond, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to condemn the Turnbull government's plans to introduce a 'fun tax', with which they will be charging more for entertainment visas for international acts to tour Australia. The increase in the visa fees will have a detrimental effect on the music industry and on regional economies. This is a major concern in my electorate of Richmond, which is the home to the greatest music festivals in the country. These, of course, include: Bluesfest; Splendour in the Grass and the Byron Falls festival.

From November, the Turnbull government plans to remove a $7,200 group discount cap on the price of visas for entertainers coming to Australia. This will then potentially see a 600 per cent increase in visa fees for large touring parties and multi-act festivals. Major festivals, which can have up to 200 international acts, could expect a price jump from the previous cap of $7,200 to well over $55,000. This will ultimately lead to higher ticket prices, fewer tours, less live music and less job opportunities.

The fact is that large music festivals inject massive economic benefits into regional communities like mine, which has those great festivals I mentioned earlier. We have tens of thousands of people coming to our area. It makes a huge difference to our local tourism and our hospitality businesses. Today, I call on the Turnbull government to not proceed with the unfair visa fee increases and to cancel the 'fun tax' immediately.