[Greens-Media] Does SA Labor Really Love Live Music?

[Franks, Office]

July  24, 2013
RELEASE: Does SA Labor Really Love Live Music?
A Greens' amendment currently before the Parliament will test whether Weatherill Labor really 'loves live music'.
The Greens' amendment to the Gambling Reform Bill currently before the Parliament will move to divert funds from poker machines to live music, increasing the Community Development Fund by $350,000.
The Greens' Arts spokesperson, Tammy Franks MLC, said the modest amount being put forward by the Greens simply reflected the annual CPI increase, had this amount been applied to the fund each year.
The fund was originally established more than 10 years ago under the previous Liberal Government by former Minister Di Laidlaw, but has not been increased by a single cent under the Rann-Weatherill Labor Government.
"It's well-documented that pokies have hurt live music, it's only fair that we divert a small fraction of the funds from pokies back into the live music industry," Ms Franks said.
 "In reality, under the Rann-Weatherill Government, commitment to live music has fallen each year.
"This is despite the Premier's rhetoric, and despite SA having appointed a live music Thinker in Residence.
"It's time for Premier Weatherill to put his money where his mouth is.
"At this stage the Government has indicated that they will oppose the Greens' amendment, even though last month Premier Weatherill made a commitment at a public forum that he would consider at least a CPI increase to the fund.
"If Labor votes against the Greens' amendment today, those who truly love live music have a right to feel ripped off by this Government," Ms Franks concluded.
She said the move to see the fund increased was supported by SLAM (Save Live Australia's Music) and Music SA.
Background from SLAM:
"The South Australian Gaming Machines Act 1992 provides a community benefit fund of $20 million including $500,000 per annum to contemporary music from pokies revenue. However, this funding doesn't appear to have been indexed since it started, which means the financial contribution to the music industry has decreased in real terms. ArtsSA and MusicSA work hard to support live music, but the investments in infrastructure are inadequate."
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