Victorian Parliamentary inquiry into tourism and events support hears plea to save ‘industry in crisis’

The Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Support for the Tourism and Events Sectors has begun with Simon Thewlis, from Save Victorian Events, appearing alongside ShowTech’s Tiny Good and CrewCare’s Howard Freeman as the first witnesses, highlighting that the state’s event industry is in crisis.

Commencing today, Thewlis, Good and Freeman, the Inquiry’s first witnesses, emphasised that Victoria's event industry is in crisis, a situation exaggerated by the recent end of the Federal Government’s JobKeeper allowance.

Advising that many event businesses will struggle to get through the winter, Thewlis cited how Victoria has long been viewed as Australia's ‘events state’ with Melbourne viewed as a global event capital.

He expressed his fear that event businesses and people won’t be around when the sector picks up.

Among the key pillars outlined by Save Victorian Events to rescue the state’s events sector are a new dedicated government agency to support, develop and promote Victoria’s event industry, further financial support for event companies and a Federal Government program to underwrite Covid cancel insurance.

Speaking at the Inquiry, Thewlis stated “while there is much emphasis on the small number of really big events, its actually the hundred plus thousand other events that make the greatest contribution to life in Victoria and contribute most in terms of employment and economic activity

“At government level, we do seem to have been kidnapped by the tourism folk and vested interests. These three sectors - arts, tourism and sport - have received over $2 billion in state government support, while the event industry remains empty handed and struggling.”

Thewlis went on to warn that unless action is taken “we will lose a lot of Victoria’s event capability” and Melbourne’s reputation as “global event city”.

He added “Victoria’s event industry is a vast number of people and businesses who have worked their whole lives and put everything into creating great events

“People who have made an extraordinary contribution to Victoria. They deserve much better than this.”

Save Victorian Events industry plan
The body is calling for the following:

1. For the Victorian Government to recognise the Event Industry as a real industry in its own right. And, as an important industry to Victoria, and to Victoria's future.

2. For the Victorian Government to understand and value the many real contributions that events make to Victoria. And, the extraordinary skills, talents and resources of the event industry - as they should be getting used during this crisis.

3. For the Victorian Government to set up a dedicated government agency - Events Victoria - to support, develop and promote Victoria's event industry. Including, as an export industry. An agency that has people who understand the event industry and are committed to working with us and supporting us. 

4. For the Victorian Government to provide some real financial support for the event companies, event suppliers and the freelancers and contractors so they can survive until later in the year when events start picking up again properly.

5. For the Victoria Government to work with the Federal Government to underwrite Covid cancel insurance so that many events can start happening again.

Click here to view the full strategy. 

Information about the Inquiry can be viewed at www.parliament.vic.gov.au/eic-lc/inquiries/article/4632