Local and Live Creative Venues

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. T.A. Franks:

1. That a select committee of the Legislative Council be established to inquire into and report on local and live creative venues, with particular reference to:

(a) the impacts of, and reasons for, recent loss of live music and local creative venues in South Australia;

(b) understanding the cultural, social, economic and other contributions made by local and live creative venues;

(c) supporting South Australian artists and creatives with venues and spaces where they can develop their craft, audiences and communities;

(d) understanding the types of cultural infrastructure needed for a healthy art, culture and creative sector in South Australia;

(e) protecting local and live creative venues and performance spaces; and

(f) any other related matters.

2. That this council permits the select committee to authorise the disclosure or publication, as it sees fit, of any evidence or documents presented to the committee prior to such evidence being presented to the council.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:35): I rise today on behalf of the Liberal Party to also support the motion moved by the Hon. Tammy Franks to establish a Select Committee to inquire and report on the state of local and live creative venues in South Australia.

I know that my esteemed parliamentary colleague, the very musical, talented the Hon. Ben Hood, is very passionate about this matter and will also be making a valuable contribution to support this motion later.

For almost 10 years now, Adelaide has been recognised as Australia's first and only UNESCO City of Music. Venues supporting local artists are vital in our cultural, social and economic landscape.

Recent closures of live music and creative venues have highlighted challenges local and live creative venues are facing in South Australia. The purpose of this Select Committee aims to ensure that South Australia's creative sector is adequately supported and preserved for future generations.

Unfortunately, SA has lost 86 mid-sized live music venues since the start of the COVID pandemic. Many have been listed by some of our esteemed parliamentary colleagues earlier. According to statistics from the Australasian Performing Right Association that provided the stats about the closure, factors such as rising rent, noise complaints, regulatory pressures and the impact of cost of living have compounded difficulties for venue operators. Understanding these challenges is essential for creating informed policies that can mitigate further losses and ensure the sustainability of these spaces.

We also must note that local creative venues serve as more than just performing spaces. They are hubs of cultural expressions, community engagement and economic activity. Prior to COVID-19, SA businesses in the music and performing arts sector directly contributed more than $183 million to the local economy. South Australian artists and creative sectors rely on live venues to develop their craft, build their audiences and connect with their communities.

I am proud to say that the Liberal Party is strongly committed to the arts and music sector, as shown through our track record of providing essential funding during the COVID pandemic to provide short-term relief as well as support for long-term recovery in the sector. The arts and music sectors were some of the hardest hit industries by the COVID-19 pandemic. The former Marshall Liberal Government provided a $3 million support package in 2021 to ensure live venues, professional touring artists and their crew, and even event promoters, could resume operating as soon as restrictions were eased.

The motion today calls for a Select Committee to be established to examine the types of cultural infrastructure necessary to support artists and venues. It could include things like affordable spaces for rehearsals, performances, exhibitions and flexible regulatory frameworks that allow venues to operate without undue restrictions or unreasonable compliance.

The Select Committee will allow the Parliament to investigate matters and explore strategies that safeguard these spaces. It is a great opportunity for the committee to also look at innovative venue ownership and management models, learning from other jurisdictions' best practice and considering how South Australia's creative sector can adapt to future challenges.

With those comments, I wholeheartedly support the motion and thank the Hon. Tammy Franks for bringing this matter to our attention.