AusLeisure

Arts and entertainment industry peak body, Live Performance Australia, has today called on the Victorian Government to lift density restrictions on all live entertainment venues on Thursday night with a snap back to pre-lock down settings.

LPA Chief Executive Evelyn Richardson said the live entertainment industry could not continue to reopen at reduced capacity every time there was a snap lock down.

“The financial impact of this 14-day lock down on our companies and people is massive. Companies have lost millions of dollars, hundreds of performances have been cancelled, staff have been stood down, regional tours within Victoria and interstate have been disrupted or now won’t go ahead.

“This is a massive blow for an industry only just getting back on its feet. Like many other industries, including hospitality and cinema, reopening at reduced capacity is not financially viable. The costs involved in reopening at reduced capacity are significant and we will have venues and shows that will not reopen until we can operate at 100 percent capacity. It’s just not feasible.

“Professor Sutton has said that there is not much benefit in prolonged restrictions and that what is needed is super sensitive surveillance systems and contact tracing. Victoria has those in place. We need to have confidence in our systems and response teams.

“Our industry remains fully committed to keeping the community safe.

Richardson added “we can operate our venues safely. We have been operating them safely in Victoria. There have been no cases of transmission in our venues. We have managed the risks through COVIDSafe Plans that have been implemented and proven successful in Victoria and around the country. We also have QR Codes and data for all patrons attending our theatres. With QR code compliance, rapid contact tracing, testing and mask wearing, there is no reason venues should not reopen at pre-lock down settings.

“This will get all of our people back to work and enable our companies to get back to business. As soon as we get the green light, it must be business as usual. We cannot sustain the losses that are caused by these lock downs.

“We need sharper and smarter tools rather than extended lock downs that cause irreparable damage. The economic and mental health of Victoria depends on it.

“We also need to see the vaccine program turbo charged with the national goal of getting to 70% of Australians fully vaccinated by Christmas. This must be the number one priority of all governments, led by the Commonwealth. Our industry stands ready to assist in supporting the vaccine rollout as an urgent priority.”

Related Articles

8th June 2021 - Victoria’s Chief Health Officer warns of no large crowds when Melbourne lockdown ends

8th June 2021 - Highlighting safety of gym visits Vic Active says Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has ‘got it wrong’

4th June 2021 - Return of international tours vital for Australia’s entertainment venues and promoters

2nd June 2021 - Melbourne’s stage three lockdown to be extended for another week while restrictions to ease in regional Victoria

2nd June 2021 - Theme park tickets and airline rewards offered as incentives for vaccination uptake

27th May 2021 - Victoria Government announces seven-day lockdown

5th May 2021 - Live Performance Australia announces presentation of 2020 Helpmann Industry Achievement Awards

25th March 2021 - Live performance and entertainment bodies welcome Federal Government’s funding extension

23rd March 2021 - Entertainment and Live Performance sector representatives takes argument for industry support to Canberra

19th March 2021 - Live Performance Australia calls for 100% capacity in all live entertainment venues

22nd February 2021 - Live Performance Australia calls for targeted JobSaver action to prevent further collapse of the arts and entertainment industry

8th January 2021 - Live performance paused in Brisbane as Queensland Premier announces city-wide lockdown

18th November 2020 - Live Performance Australia releases updated Ticketing Code of Practice

10th August 2020 - Live Performance Australia releases comprehensive COVIDSafe guidelines

7th August 2020 - Live Performance Australia commends Western Australian Government for shared risk funding

25th June 2020 - Arts and entertainment funding package welcomed by Live performance industry

4th June 2020 - Live Performance Australia’s $345 million plan to restart and rebuild the entertainment industry

5th May 2020 - Live Performance Australia slams NSW Government’s lack of support for cultural sector in crisis during Coronavirus crisis

4th April 2020 - LPA believes funding still not enough to prevent decimation of live performance industry

23rd March 2020 - LPA seeks targeted financial stimulus for live performance industry

18th March 2020 - Perth Festival supports Live Performance Australia’s call for immediate economic stimulus

17th March 2020 - LPA calls for $850 million live performance support and stimulus package

13th March 2020 - Live Performance Australia calls for urgent government action to protect $2.5 billion industry

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.