Shorten Labor Government will address Mental Health needs in the Music Industry - Noise11.com
Tony Burke at the Labor Arts Launch at The espy photo by Noise11

Tony Burke at the Labor Arts Launch at The espy photo by Noise11

Shorten Labor Government will address Mental Health needs in the Music Industry

by Paul Cashmere on May 14, 2019

in News,Noise Pro

Under a Shorten Labor Government, mental health issues in the music industry will be supported with $5 million in funding to be allocated to Support Act.

Support Act is the Australian music industry charity helping artists and music workers facing hardship due to illness, injury or other crisis impacting their ability to work.

In its recently announced Arts policy, the man who will be Minister for the Arts Tony Burke MP outlined Labor’s commitment.

Labor recognises that while artists work in situations that risk poor mental health, the work they create stimulates good mental health for all.

Labor will provide $5 million over five years to Support Act, a game changer for the mental health landscape in the industry, and provide ongoing funding of $200,000 to deliver a comprehensive mental health program for people throughout the music industry.

As part of our policy development process Labor will also look to ensure that artists can always access mental health support services and whether peak professional bodies can assist in this. There may be scope to establish a national employee assistance program to fund for professional practicing artists to access quality counselling when they need it.

In composing its Arts program Tony Burke says that “Labor recognises that while artists create significant value for the economy, artists’ work is often casual, precarious and unpredictable”.

Labor plans to clean up the loopholes in Centrelink that currently restricts artist support in unpredictable times.

In the construction of the new Arts policy, Tony Burke references Labor great Gough Whitlam who was the first Prime Minister to recognise the Arts as an industry and pursue an ambitious and independent approach to the cultural institutions of our nation.

In the upcoming Australian election this weekend, it is important for people in the Arts community to consider their future passed on past actions of both the Liberal and Labor parties.

Follow Noise11 on Twitter for news as it happens

For news as it happens follow Noise11 on Facebook

Noise11.com

Listen to the Noise11 Music News channel now at iHeartRadio

Related Posts

The Beatles Australasian Tour 1964
New Beatles Book Marks 60 Years Since The Australian Tour

A new book on The Beatles by Andy Neill and Greg Armstrong is focused on The Beatles one and only ever Australian tour from back in 1964.

14 hours ago
Hoodoo Gurus Stoneage Romeos 40th anniversary edition
Hoodoo Gurus ‘Stoneage Romeos’ Turns 40

Hoodoo Gurus debut album ‘Stoneage Romeos’ turned 40 this month. The album was released in Australia in March 1984 and in the USA in September 1984.

15 hours ago
Kylie Minogue photo by Ros O'Gorman
Kylie Minogue Heartbroken By Splendour In The Grass

Kylie Minogue has expressed sadness over an Australian music festival's cancellation.

1 day ago
Kylie Minogue photo by Ros O'Gorman
Splendour In The Grass Release Official Statement About 2024 Cancellation

Following is the exact statement from Splendour In The Grass about the cancellation of the July festival today from CEOs Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco.

2 days ago
Tim and Neil Finn I See Red rehearsals in LA 2004
Split Enz Fans, Watch The Finn Brothers Rehearse ‘I See Red’

Split Enz/Crowded House archivist Peter Green has offered up another rare fine, Tim and Neil Finn rehearsing their Split Enz classic ‘I See Red’ in Los Angeles in 2004.

2 days ago
Kylie Minogue photo by Ros OGorman
Splendour In The Grass Cancelled for 2024

Splendour In The Grass 2024, set for 19, 20, 21 July, has been cancelled just two weeks after being announced.

2 days ago
Jason Singh
Jason Singh Wins Two Year Taxiride Trade Mark Battle Against Fellow Band Members

Taxiride co-founder Jason Singh has won a two-year legal battle against fellow bandmates Tim Watson and Tim Wild over the Taxiride Trade Mark.

3 days ago