Page 2530 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 31 July 2019
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music scene could look like now if this Assembly had done all of the things that it promised to do over the last decade?
I do not think we can even begin to imagine the sort of talent that probably would have been uncovered, but those opportunities have gone missing as a consequence of a strangulation in this space. The territory’s demographics alone demonstrate the need for a vibrant and flourishing live music sector. When you count in the overnight visitor numbers, the case is overwhelming.
But a vibrant music and live entertainment sector just cannot flourish at the moment, thanks to the neglect of this government in creating planning and regulatory regimes and the standards that govern opportunity for aspiring musicians, rock bands, folk groups, country and western bands, jazz bands, bush poets, theatre groups—the list is endless. Our noise level regulations, our venue licensing conditions and zoning rules, along with the apathetic attitude of this government, ensure persistent suppression of opportunity and limitations on permissible locations for live music to flourish.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I appreciate that the rights of all parties must be recognised in consideration of change. People have the right to quiet enjoyment of their place of residence. We all agree on that. We all agree. They ought not to be subjected to stressful noise levels. But likewise, we should be providing venues, localities and precincts where perhaps higher, but sensible, sound outputs may be permissible. At the moment, this is impossible because zoning provisions and noise regulations are a sort of a one-size-fits-all approach. They present a widespread and compelling deterrent. There are a number of historical cases that are drawn on where live music venues have been squeezed out.
I am not suggesting that we race out this instant and double the permissible noise levels all over the place. We need to be sensible about this. What I am saying is that Canberra has a golden opportunity to build its image as a music and live entertainment hub that the territory itself, our proximate region and our millions of visitors might be attracted to. I appreciate that things like the National Folk Festival and other large outdoor events are major attractions. But I think we also need to create a lot more opportunities for smaller, far more intimate venues that serve proximate residential hubs such as town and city centres, and village centres envisaged in the Territory Plan refresh and urban renewal plans.
If we created and pursued such a strategy, many visitors may choose to remain longer and spend more. If we provide the environment in which live music and other live entertainment can flourish, the job opportunities and the wider economic and cultural impacts could be very substantial. At the moment, the Chief Minister’s cool little capital is not achieving his aspiration, nor the aspirations of many in the live music industry.
Many in the music industry may well consider Canberra to be the stale little capital, with its cold and windblown city streets bereft of the sort of activity that could draw people out of their high-density living structures. In this regard, you only need to browse the Sunday papers to see what we are missing out on. I ask members to think
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