AUSTRALIAN MUSIC fans are rallying against the Turnbull Government’s plan to hike up Entertainment Visa processing fees by up to 600 per cent, after concerns were raised about how the changes might affect the ability of international acts to tour Australia.
A 600% increase in the price of entertainment visas will have a dramatic effect on the entertainment industry in the Byron Shire.
Events like Bluesfest, Splendour, Falls and more would suffer an increase in ticket prices and possibly force events like these to be abandoned totally.
Industry body Live Performance Australia (LPA) has already pledged to fight the move, arguing that the jacked-up fees will deter some acts from touring Australia or coming to play festivals here.
After news broke last week of Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s intentions — which LPA call a “massive money grab” — a Change.org petition was launched to protest his plan, and it’s already received over 6,100 signatures at the time of writing.
The petition, titled ‘Keep The Entertainment Industry Alive’, was created by Sydneysider Sophie Brown, who thinks it’s an important issue for all Aussies to get behind.
“This is a change that will have a detrimental affect on Australia’s economy and in particular the Australian Music Industry as a whole, affecting the artists, general public in regards to ticket prices and also a multitude of jobs within every sector of the industry, even including tourism and hospitality,” Sophie says.
“The high costs associated with acts coming to Australia are already extremely high, so adding on another enormous price rise just doesn’t seem logical.
SIGN THE PETITION HEREL https://www.change.org/p/keep-the-entertainment-industry-alive
What? Are we supposed to miss out coz we are down under !!!!!?????💔💔💔