$130b JobKeeper plan approved -but not arts & entertainment push
Bad news for casuals & freelancers, many of whom are ineligible for govt assistance.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under Commonwealth Games, News, Top Stories, Video
The Federal Government last night approved the $130 billion JobKeeper legislation -the single largest piece of government spending in Australian history.
It will provide a $1,500 per fortnight wage subsidy for up to 6 million Australians and support for more than 730,000 businesses.
The Opposition backed the legislation after it failed to expand the JobKeeper program to include 1.1 million more casual workers and temporary visa holders. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said earlier that while his party had concerns about the legislation, it would “never let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”
Despite payments not beginning until May, they will be backdated to the end of March.
But the legislation also will see many casuals and freelance workers in the Arts & Entertainment sectors ‘fall between the cracks.’ Many will not meet the criteria of working for the same employer for a minimum of 12 months.
The news is a blow to unions and guilds who have all been at pains to point out the risks to many of their members:
- Screen Producers Australia (SPA)
- Australian Directors’ Guild (ADG),
- Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG),
- Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA),
- Live Performance Australia (LPA)
- Australian Drama Agents’ Association (ADAA),
- Association of Drama Agents in NSW (ADA),
- Casting Guild of Australia (CGA)
Amendment I moved for the government to provide a support package for the arts and entertainment sector which is largely ineligible for job seeker is defeated: 29-24#auspol
— Tony Burke (@Tony_Burke) April 8, 2020
Government & Pauline Hanson voted down our amendment to include the arts, entertainment & events sector in the $130b package.
However, the Treasurer does have the power under legislative provisions agreed to by the Greens to allow these workers & biz access. He should act now.— 💚🌏 Sarah Hanson-Young (@sarahinthesen8) April 8, 2020
Yesterday actor Nadine Garner told The Age, she has looked at welfare before but “I spend my life looking for the box I’m meant to tick on forms,” she says. “It doesn’t exist.”
“They look at you like you’re crazy because the rate you charge as an employee is quite high – if I’m paid X thousands for a few days’ work why am I applying for assistance? But it might be my only two days of work in six months.”
Garner lost her most recent job abruptly when the Melbourne Theatre Company production of Emerald City closed just days into a six-week run.
Many freelance artists, performers and screen crew are ineligible for the government's new JobKeeper wage subsidy. Today they took action on social media to explain why we need an income subsidy for everyone.@ScottMorrisonMP @JoshFrydenberg are you listening?#NoWorkerLeftBehind pic.twitter.com/8P4J4ACuEr
— MEAA (@withMEAA) April 2, 2020
Updated:
“Freelance employees and many loyal casuals will – without urgent changes to the JobKeeper rules, be at least $200 a week worse off. For those who were earning more than $1500 per fortnight, the losses are greater,” said Paul Murphy, Chief Executive of the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance.
“The latest ABS COVID-19 data spells things out: the Arts and Recreation sector has 47 per cent of businesses still trading, while the figure for Media and Telecommunications is 65 per cent – the lowest of all 17 trading sectors. It is hard to comprehend why the Government would, through inaction, seek to compound this damage.
“Workers in the arts and entertainment sector have been stood down by their employers, their working environments (venues, sets and workshops) have been shut down by government decree, and they have been forgotten by the COVID-19 stimulus.
“We nonetheless congratulate the many thousands of MEAA members who have taken action in recent days, both through social media and by contacting their MP to bring attention to the inequity of the JobKeeper scheme.
“This has resulted in the final legislation leaving the door open for further changes to the JobKeeper access rules.
“MEAA and its members will continue to campaign for the scheme to be extended to include freelancers and short-term casuals who have regular employment with a series of different employers.
“We will also advocate for arts and entertainment organisations to have greater access to JobKeeper.
“MEAA members have a clear message for Arts Minister Paul Fletcher: step up and defend the community that looks to you as its voice in the Government. It is his job to make the system accessible and relevant to our sector.
“MEAA will also continue to harness our members’ strength to push for industry rescue packages and for State Governments to play a greater role in keeping the performing arts and screen sectors alive.
“We cannot and will not let today’s decision be the final call on this matter. Too many livelihoods and the fate of our industries are at stake.”
Whilst Live Performance Australia has called on the government for a $850 million support and stimulus package the government has announced $7 million for the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program, $10 million for Regional Arts Australia’s regional arts fund and $10m for Support Act, the charity that provides financial support and counselling to people in the music industry.
Source: ABC, The Age smh.com.au
9 Responses
Yes i did generalise but how can someone who has had years on tv with numerous tv shows be broke so soon? Surely there is some reserve of funds from the glory days. With respect david i am assuming you were a struggling actor and not a household name such as nadine gardiner so i wouldnt expect the battlers to have funds in reserve.no disrespect was meant guys.
Nadine gave this some context. Showbiz is indeed very deceptive.
I feel absolutely gutted for the Industry and all who are suffering because they are not covered by the various stimulus measures. The Arts and Entertainment are so important to culture and humankind, yet they seem to have been overlooked. Major personalities who are in regular work will be okay, but talent and freelance production staff/writers/creators etc who have gaps between projects just don’t have the opportunity to put money away for a rainy day. In fact, many struggling talent usually to hospitality or retail work to keep the money coming in, but even those jobs are not available at the moment. Let’s hope for a massive Fundraiser Benefit for all those struggling to make ends meet ☹️
Yes, you make a good point that is perhaps not fully comprehended, even in a recession there are still jobs available, but in this current COVID-19 crisis most of those part time work opportunities no longer exist.
That is why the government is funding $130 billion for JobKeeper.
As I’ve said on these pages before, it’s a precarious industry to be in, but we chose to be in it rather than work in a bank of for the public service. Everyone in it spends some time in work and other times not and in those other times often have to fall back on the dole to tide them over until the next gig. The dole (now known as JobSeeker) has been doubled to $1100 per fortnight to cope with this situation and pretty-well everyone referred to in this story is eligible. So to those organisations who want to actually help their members rather trying to score political points, help them get on to that.
Actors shpuld be like farmers and put money asode when there is a “drought”, do they can get through hard times…pity neither group seems to.
Having been an actor, that’s not true, but there are limits.
What a simplistic generalisation. Your comment demonstrates an ignorance of both those occupations and the challenges people in them face.
But Farmers don’t and cannot always put money away. How many times do you hear about them having to walk of the land. The suicide rate of farmers is very high. My guess is that actors do it tough. The top tier do very well but a large percentage would struggle.