Australia’s rock royalty including Daryl Braithwaite, Diesel, Megan Washington, Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool/Mondo Rock), Montaigne and Kav Temperley (Eskimo Joe) took to the steps of Parliament House in Canberra last night to emphasis the importance of copyright protection.
“The Productivity Commission is attempting to undermine the rights of songwriters,” said Ross Wilson. “We deserve to get paid for our work, and not have big tech companies unfairly profit from our creations. I hope to see bipartisan support for our cause.”
APRA AMCOS CEO Brett Cottle said our laws were in a desperate need of review. “We call on the Federal Government to refer the question of whether Australia’s safe harbour provisions should be amended and, if so in what way, to the Department of Communications and the Arts for a comprehensive and holistic review of the different issues and stakeholder interests involved. This review process must include thorough consultation with the creative content sector”.
The tri-partisan view was shared between Labor, Liberals and Aussie musos when all three groups sang along together to Daryl Braithwaite’s classic ‘The Horses’.
Daryl Braithwaite playing "the people's anthem" in "the people's house". This is peak Canberra #auspol pic.twitter.com/7jKdLDYQx4
— Matthew Doran (@MattDoran91) March 29, 2017
“We also call on the Government to recognise both the macro and micro economic impact and opportunity of the Australian contemporary music industry,” Brett Cottle said.
“Innovation is at the heart of the sector, with songwriters and artists operating micro-businesses across every corner of the country.
“Collectively, they contribute to a multi-billion dollar industry that is relevant to a large number of government portfolios, from Communications and the Arts to Trade, Tourism, Innovation, Small Business, Education, Regional Development and Health.”
The views of the Parliamentary Friends of Australian Music(#PFOAM) Rock the House event were heard by over 300 senators and members of Parliament.
