2025-04-19
Our festival sector is in turmoil. The cost of living crisis, skyrocketing cost of insurance and the impacts of extreme weather events caused by climate change have been wreaking havoc on festivals big and small across Australia.
Festivals have long been the beating heart of the local music industry and are essential to growing audiences for Australian artists.
Festivals are not only important for our arts and music industry but also support local tourism, hospitality and retail businesses.
The Greens will allocate $20 million a year to provide a critical lifeline to Australian festivals.
The Greens will fight for:
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$20 million a year in grants for festivals, including higher maximum grants and the ability to use funds for developing on-site infrastructure, from within the Greens’ $200m per year Arts funding commitment;
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$2m for a review to investigate the market failure of insurance in the live music industry and options to establish a government backed insurance scheme
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The creation of a festivals strategy through Music Australia to ensure federal and state government coordination and support
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Tax offsets for touring artists and venues that host live performances
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10 per cent tax offsets for the costs of hosting live music
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50 per cent tax offset for travel expenses
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Support that can benefit small businesses running festivals with the establishment of a small business incubator and extension of the $20,000 instant asset write-off until July 1 2026
The package will have a particular focus on supporting local and independent festivals and is part of the broader arts package already launched by the Greens.
Quotes attributable to Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for the Arts:
“Our festivals are in crisis. Over the past few years we have seen the cancellation after cancellation of loved and iconic festivals. It’s clear that the government needs to step in to help the industry.
“The Albanese Government made some big promises to the arts industry when they were first elected, almost 3 years on they have failed to deliver. A plan for the arts is nothing without the funding required to support the industry.
“The Greens plan for supporting our festivals takes a holistic view of what the sector needs. This means direct support in the form of grants, a review of the market failure in insurance for live events, a federal strategy for the sustainability of festivals across the country into the future and tax offsets for both venues and artists.
“Festivals are an essential part of the music ecosystem and an important part of our culture. It’s how Australian artists build new audiences that help set up their careers and it’s how young people build a love for live music.
“Festivals matter, they particularly bring our regions, like the Northern Rivers, to life. Festivals inject money and enthusiasm into our local communities from the cities to the regions.
“I am excited to be making this announcement at Bluesfest, an iconic Australian festival and a great example of how investment in the arts drives local, regional economies.
“The Greens always have been and always will be the party for the arts. This election, to support our arts and creative industries you have to vote Green.”