Labor pledges $103m to reignite NSW’s music scene after lockout laws, Covid lockdown

A generous pre-election cash splash has promised to make this state Australia’s “home of live music,” after years of lockout laws and lockdown shuttered venues.

NSW’s music industry could get a $103m cash injection, in the hopes of reviving the state’s live music scene after hundreds of venues shuttered by Covid and Sydney’s lockout laws.

Opposition Leader Chris Minns said he was determined to make NSW “the home of live music in Australia,” if Labor wins the state election on March 25.

Live music venues would be given support to trade longer, pay less for license fees and access incentives around floor space and density bonuses.

“We know that the lockout laws that were in place for several years in NSW, smashed live venues in this state, and closed down many historic institutions that served as a launch pad for bands such as Midnight Oil, ACDC, The Angels and Spiderbait,” said Mr Minns, who made the announcement alongside Ngaiire, William Crighton, Charlie Collins, and KLP.

NSW singer songwriter Ngaiire. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

The funding injection would also create an arts agency specific to contemporary music called, Sound NSW.

The office would operate like Screen NSW and work to develop funding priorities, like promoting music by First Nations artists, and support “rebuilding skills” across the sector.

The industry body would also create a 10-year Contemporary Music Strategy, with NSW currently the only state that doesn’t have a long-term plan.

NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns and Labor spokesperson for music and the night-time economy, John Graham. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Labor spokesperson for music and the night-time economy, John Graham, said it was a “practical” package, which would “bring music back” to Sydney, western Sydney and regional hubs like Newcastle and Wollongong.

He pointed towards the $8 million Vivid Venues fund in which the state government would foot half the cost of soundproofing, ventilation and video screen technology in eligible venues.

“We know we lost 176 venues during the lockouts, we know we lost more during Covid,” he said.

“To have fewer than 300 venues in NSW is shocking. We have to turn that around.”