Election 2022: Greens want $250 minimum pay for performers

There’s a push for individuals in one job to get at least $250 for an hour’s work after the industry was hit hard by the pandemic.

The Greens will push for performers to be paid a minimum fee of $250 at government-funded events if they hold the balance of power.

The live arts were decimated by the pandemic, with performers often left bearing the loss of cancellations or a lack of ticket sales.

To provide more certainty, Greens leader Adam Bandt will on Tuesday announce his party will push for a minimum $250 payment for performances at least an hour long when the event has received a government grant.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said more needed to be done for performers and the arts sector. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

It builds on a call from the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance for this minimum fee to be in place for musicians and expanding to comedians and other performers.

David Novak from Sydney garage rock duo Polish Club, comedian Kyran Wheatley and musician and union delegate Kimberley Wheeler will be present for the announcement.

Mr Bandt said he didn’t agree with performers being expected to wear financial risks.

He said they would legislate for the minimum fee.

“For too long performers have been expected to wear massive financial risks, and this instability means a lot of people can’t get into or stay in the industry,” he said.

“In balance of power, the Greens will push for musicians, comedians and other performers playing in government-backed events to get properly paid, and for more support for artists when gigs are cancelled.”

The Greens arts spokeswoman Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said they wanted better support for the arts and live performance sector.

“The sector was smashed literally overnight and suffered the longest and hardest, yet repeated pleas to the Morrison government for adequate help to survive and rebuild have been ignored,” she said.

“The Morrison government has treated the arts sector and creative workers with contempt, like a bunch of dim philistines who dismiss the public of the arts but love belting out tunes from their favourite artists.”

In the budget, the Coalition allocated $38.3m over the next two years to support the struggling arts sector post Covid.