Trevor Evans (Brisbane, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Queensland Labor policies are slowly strangling the live music scene in Brisbane. The most comprehensive study to date, undertaken by the University of Tasmania, shows that the economic value of live music to the Australian economy is over $15.7 billion. An estimated 65,000 full-time and part-time jobs are created in the live music industry, mostly in small and medium businesses, and overwhelmingly those jobs and opportunities go to younger Australians. Live music spending in Australia delivers at least a three-to-one benefit-to-cost ratio.

Take one iconic Brisbane venue, The Zoo, as an illustrative example of exactly what's happening right now. The Zoo is an Australian success story—independent and female-owned, operated and booked for at least the past quarter of a century. In that time, it has hosted the likes of Powderfinger, Silverchair, Ben Harper, the Black Keys, Gomez and Violent Soho. We need to continue that fine tradition for future generations, yet The Zoo has recently reduced its trading hours as a result of Queensland Labor's regulations, which are nanny state, one size fits all and certainly not fit for purpose. Opportunities are drying up right now for both musicians and patrons. Other live music venues are being pushed to the wall and are closing completely. The New Globe Theatre announced its closure, and Oh Hello is slated to shut next month. Shamefully, the response of Queensland Labor has been deafening silence. (Time expired)