Melbourne’s circuit-breaker pandemic lockdown has had a devastating effect on the city’s performing arts and its workers, and industry leaders are calling for a rethink of support packages and exemptions in case it happens again.
And with Wednesday’s announcement of a slow reopening, initially at just 25 per cent capacity for another week, the pain is likely to continue. They have called for the state government to extended its business support package to sole traders who earn less than $75,000 and are not registered for GST – covering many who work in the arts – and for a business interruption insurance facility to cover sudden lockdowns.Melbourne Theatre Company co-CEO Virginia Lovett said the performing arts also need a lockdown exemption for rehearsals to avoid production delays lasting long after lockdowns end.
“If you’re going to continue to impose health directions and restrictions on a company’s ability to trade and people’s ability to work and earn a living then there needs to be support to enable people to survive,” she said.to help pay artists whose shows could not go on. And they are scraping together money for food packs for out-of-work casuals.
Red Stitch’s Ella Caldwell said arts workers were “still carrying a lot from last year”, and the impact on their mental health was “not only very serious but in a way intensifying ... I’m seeing that constantly”. She said the industry needs a quick response program with emergency funding for workers who lost their livelihoods in lockdowns – and an end to limits on existing support such as the requirement for sole traders being eligible for GST.
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