Australia’s arts and entertainment industry will receive an additional $135m in the next federal budget to ease the pain in one of the sectors hardest hit by the pandemic. But of the federal government’s earlier $250m rescue package for the sector, budgeted for the 2020/2021 financial year, three-quarters is yet to be spent. Both Labor and the Greens are calling for jobkeeper to be extended for employees in the arts and entertainment sectors. Of that, $50m may never be spent, earmarked as insurance for the film industry. The remaining $200m consists of a $75m Rise fund designed to get productions and events back up and running, a $35m sustainability fund to ensure the ongoing financial viability of arts organisations, and a $90m show-starter loan scheme.

Source: The Guardian March 25, 2021 02:37 UTC