Wednesday, 11 September 2024

 Gabrielle DE VIETRI (Richmond) (15:04): (816) My question is for the Minister for Creative Industries. Imagine what our state would be like without artists: no music, no TV, no dancing, no circus, no street art, no games, no fun, no culture, no beauty – what a sad place that would be. Even successful artists in my electorate have told me that they are unable to make ends meet from their creative work alone, and they have been speaking out against the instability that comes from insecure contracts, from poor rights and from the promise of exposure in lieu of a pay cheque. The problem is exposure will not pay the rent. A Fitzroy artist told me at a recent exhibition that the organisation was paid, the security guards and cleaning staff were paid – as they should be – and the artists got nothing. Minister, will you follow the lead of countries like France and Ireland and pay Victorian artists a living wage?