It seems we can’t take a trick, over the weekend it has been announced live performance theatre shows, music and arts all have funding and support along with Agriculture based field days YET Business Events are once again excluded or simply forgotten!

$86 million injection to kickstart arts, screen and culture in NSW

It really feels like we are deliberately being left out of any support whilst other related and affiliated sectors have been prioritised and committed to.

As I have previously raised, have we done such a poor job at lobbying governments about the true value of our sector, and surely if we have events incorporated into what we do it seems some events are included like Bluesfest whilst other events are simply viewed in a different category.

It’s clear that Live Performance Australia and other Arts organisations have been far more strategic and proactive at lobbying and achieving the outcome they wanted for their members and their sector.

Government will not fully appreciate and understand the business events sector until in 2022 when many companies will have disappeared, lowering the tax income to government and adding to unemployment. A number of these shows will no longer exist next year and without support for the rebuild may be affected more than any one is thinking. These shows are a catalyst to create business, and taxes.

A contributing factor will be the expected increases in costs due to labour shortages and the fact that for three years we have had no increases in income due to lockdown and many shows can ill afford to increase their rates.

It would be great to see the representative business events bodies taking a harder line, engaging media and government for the injustices and double standard instead of playing politics and hoping they will get government support and a hearing. Its clear government doesn’t recognise nor take any of them seriously, silence and non-action will do little to get a voice and get the support we need.

If everyone is sitting back thinking we are on track to re-opening, get a grip, I hate to burst the bubble but we have a long and tough road ahead to rebuild and to re-emerge. The true damage has not been fully realised yet and the true fight for our sector is just beginning.

I gave a commitment to a number of people that until we resume some normality I would keep fighting and calling out the issues and every week raise where I can the issues that are affecting us and I really hope the sector and the associations have the fortitude and guts to do the same, as so far it’s clear we have a long way to go, we need les talk and more action as the clock is ticking.