NSW Government reveals event support package for COVID-19 disrupted events

The NSW Government has announced its Event Saver Fund, a support package for major events that have been “cancelled or significantly disrupted” as a result of its current COVID-19 public health order.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has today advised that the funding will support major event organisers who have had to cancel, postpone or vary their events, commenting “major events are a key economic driver that create thousands of jobs across the state.

“The Event Saver Fund will ensure that organisers aren’t left high and dry as we work through this latest phase of the pandemic and sends a strong signal that the Government is here to support business.”

First announced by the NSW Government in October of last year, but with few details attached, the Fund will allow organisers of major events shut down or disrupted by a public health order “to pay suppliers, staff and recovery other costs,” and is intended to provide “the financial security and certainty to plan and deliver their future events.”

The announcement follows multiple large-scale events across NSW having been cancelled or postponed in recent weeks due to the current outbreak of COVID-19.

Providing further detail on the Fund, NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the funding was recognition of the important impact major events have on driving tourism as well as on the broader NSW economy adding “it is vital we provide (festivals and major events with) the support they need when their event is impacted by a Public Health Order. That is exactly what this funding commitment does.”

For more information and to apply for funding, go to www.create.nsw.gov.au.

Images: Due to run last weekend, the 2021 Grapevine Gathering in the Hunter Valley was cancelled (top) while the Tamworth Country Music Festival has been postponed to April (below).