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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Thursday, 13 May 2004) . . Page.. 1877 ..

The minister has put forward that there must be a thriving live music industry because there are so many different magazines. I regularly read both BMA and Times Out, and they have extensive gig guides. They are not always comprehensive but they are extensive. There is an internet gig guide for the ACT and the Just Bands website. They are just a few. The number of venues listed is dwindling, and the number of bands that need to move to Sydney or Melbourne to expand their craft is growing. So we need to look at what we are doing here in the ACT to support local talent and grow that local talent.

MR SPEAKER: Order! Ms Dundas has the floor.

MS DUNDAS: This motion gives us the opportunity to provide direction for live music in the territory, to diversify what kind of arts we deem it important to support. We have great talent here in the territory and more opportunities for these acts such as MeetBEE, Little Smoke, Funk Shui, and Dubba Rukki to get to play. It would be better for the music scene and would provide more opportunities for those and other acts to get their big break. That will make Canberra a much better place.

I have had a number of discussions with some people who are very interested in supporting young people in the ACT to have a safe space in which to rehearse. We are talking here about live music venues for people to perform in but they also need rehearsal space. We have all heard stories about the kid next door banging on his drum until all hours.

MR SPEAKER: Order, members! There is too much audible conversation going on.

MS DUNDAS: People are finding it harder and harder to find venues in which to rehearse, so we need to look at that issue as well. I have information and, if this motion is successful, I will happily refer people on to the government so that their ideas, vision, great music expansion and rehearsal venues can be developed in the ACT. That would be a very beneficial addition to the diversity of projects already running here in the capital. If you ask any young musician what is the hardest thing about being a musician, they ultimately say that it is finding a venue at which to play. Let us hope that this report will get some movement happening, and that after August that will no longer be the answer from many young musicians here in the ACT.

MRS CROSS (9.21): Very briefly, this—

Mrs Dunne: I rise on a point of order, Mr Speaker. I do not mean to interrupt. I did not raise this as a point of order before, but the level of conversation was very high. The only reason I did not add to it by making a point of order was because people were already sufficiently distracted. Could we ask people to go out into the lobby? It is very hard to hear.

MR SPEAKER: Order, members—and especially in the gallery. Could you use the lobby for negotiations please.

MRS CROSS (9.22): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I just wanted to commend Ms Tucker on her motion and say that this still independent member will support this motion.

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