In a world where the cost of living seems to be perpetually on the rise, it's no surprise that discretionary spending, especially among the younger demographic, is taking a hit.

The pinch is being felt all the way to the music festival scene, a cultural staple for many young Australians.

But could increasing Centrelink payments be the solution to reviving this industry? This question has sparked a heated debate across the nation.

A bar owner's call to raise Youth Allowance and JobSeeker payments to enable young Aussies to afford nights out and attend music festivals has stirred controversy.

Hugh Scobie, co-owner of Ancient World, pointed to the cost-of-living crisis and rising rents as culprits preventing many from engaging in social activities and thereby crushing the entertainment industry.

A bar owner called to raise Youth Allowance and JobSeeker payments so young Aussies can attend music festivals. Credit: Shutterstock

Music festivals, once seen as a rite of passage for the youth, are experiencing a significant drop in ticket sales.

‘Most people can't afford to spend $50 on a night out,' Scobie said.

'Raising JobSeeker and Youth Allowance to the amount recommended by the Australian Council of Social Service would help a lot.'

High-profile events like Splendour in the Grass have even been cancelled, with a report from Creative Australia’s Soundcheck revealing a 24 per cent drop in ticket sales. Among the key demographic of 18 to 24-year-olds from 2018/19 to 2022/23.

The National Arts Participation Survey echoed these findings, citing the cost of tickets as the most common barrier to attendance, impacting 55 per cent of respondents.

The most pronounced issue among party-goers under 35 was money issues, with nine out of 10 experiencing financial difficulty in 2023.

'We lost a huge amount of our audience–young people and students whose main income is from Centrelink–almost immediately after interest rates, rents, groceries, and petrol prices went up,' Scobie said.

'Seeing bands and socialising with their friends doesn't seem to be affordable for them in the current economic climate.'

JobSeeker recipients who are single and do not have children receive a fortnightly payment of $762.70, and those on Youth Allowance receive between $395.30 to $806, depending on their age, living arrangements, relationship status, and whether they have children.

Scobie suggested raising Centrelink payments per the Australian Council of Social Service's recommendation.

It is understood that the most extensive set of permanent Centrelink payment increases, particularly a $40 increase on JobSeeker and Youth Allowance, started on 20 September.

JobSeeker recipients, currently receiving an average of $55 a day, should have their payments increased to match the pension rate of $80 a day.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has weighed in, suggesting that more taxpayer funds should support festivals while also attributing festival cancellations to climate change and extreme weather events.

'Festivals are an important part of the arts and live music ecosystem. 'Festivals support jobs not only for artists but also in hospitality, tourism and trades as well,' Senator Hanson-Young said.

'It is not a surprise to hear festival organisers say that extreme weather and insurance are among their biggest challenges.’

'We have known for some time that extreme weather events and climate change are making it harder and more unpredictable to put on large-scale events.'

Key Takeaways

• Festival ticket sales among young Australians aged 18 to 24 have significantly dropped, attributed to the cost-of-living crisis and ticket prices.
• A bar owner, Hugh Scobie, has suggested raising Youth Allowance and JobSeeker payments to enable young people to participate in social activities like music festivals, which would support the entertainment industry.
• The Soundcheck report revealed a 24 per cent drop in ticket sales within the key demographic for festivals and pointed to the financial pressures on young adults, with costs like rent and groceries limiting their ability to afford event tickets.
• There have been several cancellations of major music festivals in Australia, with reasons ranging from economic pressures on consumers to challenges posed by extreme weather and the unpredictable nature of hosting large-scale events due to climate change.

Do you think Centrelink payments should be increased to support young people's participation in cultural events like music festivals? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

 

[astralweeks]

Look . this government hates you supports SCWAB GATES FAUCI etc china take over EWF genocide criminal Cabal ...that's bottom line sorry if you cant HANDLE THE TRUTH . Prove me wrong .

 

[ARL]

Wat more do unemployed people want wat about the aged who worked all their lives or disabled wen you Can’t even get by with paying off insurance, rates and water and medical scripts, power bills medical trips because we live in the country it’s all costly ,,,,,, wat about upping their pensions

People of all ages have bills.

 

[My Daisy girl]

I believe there should be a two tier dole payment. It's rediculous how if you don't want to work you don't have to in Australia. People under 45years get half and over get full payments because of age discrimination. Working great for mental health. Pubs and clubs always blame government taxes for beer prices. Why is it some charge $8 a pint and others north of $15. It's called greed. Now anything over $12 a pint I'll drink water. Stop the enormous profit taking

 

[Rosi Gordon]

For job seekers the payrise is a hard No. With raising their payments why would they want to work when they can go to bars and music festivals complimentary of government money. This Bar owner who made the suggestion is most probably one of the business owners who also complain about having to raise his workers wages to be inline with the minimum wage.

 

[siameezer]

Just an FYI, not all people on Job Seeker are young, and not all young people are lazy and don't want a job, not all young people can live at home, they struggle to buy food and pay rent, not all young people take drugs, it is so easy to criticize others, be careful when you point a finger at someone you are pointing three back at yourself.

I agree ... sadly it is so typical of the indoctrinated who worship at the feet of the media and who believe all the garbage they are fed by them. You only have to read the comments to see how blinded they all are.

 

[Squizzy1]

Centrelink is supposed to be a stop gap for those who are in hardship for whatever reason, and need it to survive, not a way of life. The age pension is supposed to support those who have insufficient to live once their worklife ends, two totally different things.

 

[siameezer]

Just walk down the street. almost every business has vacancy ads in their window.

What a load of poppycock! No they don't. Most of the time also the jobs offered are only on-call or for 10 hours or so a week. People cannot live on that and be sitting at home hoping to get called in for a shift. They need stability, regular hours and decent pay ... and they certainly don't need the judgement of people who have no idea what it is like out there. I feel sorry for a lot of the younger ones today and am ashamed of how many of my generation look down on them.

 

[Anne Heinrich]

Absolutely not!

 

[ARL]

I believe there should be a two tier dole payment. It's rediculous how if you don't want to work you don't have to in Australia. People under 45years get half and over get full payments because of age discrimination. Working great for mental health. Pubs and clubs always blame government taxes for beer prices. Why is it some charge $8 a pint and others north of $15. It's called greed. Now anything over $12 a pint I'll drink water. Stop the enormous profit taking

J agree. Older more established people get less, younger people who are just starting out and have to get cars, clothes and other costs in trying to find work get a higher dole payment

 

[Lee-Anne.Swanson]

No. I pay enough tax now. Why don't you lower the prices of tickets to these festivals to make them affordable. I can't afford to go the movies these days let alone pay hundreds of Dollars to see a favourite musician. So no, raising the pension or any other allowances and wages is not the answer.

 

[britemil]

I think some of these venues should lower their entry prices.if unemployment gets extra money for entertainment, so should pensioners. You try to afford concerts and pay rent ,food etc.you are lucky to put petrol in the car.so we don't have a social life.

 

[ARL]

For job seekers the payrise is a hard No. With raising their payments why would they want to work when they can go to bars and music festivals complimentary of government money. This Bar owner who made the suggestion is most probably one of the business owners who also complain about having to raise his workers wages to be inline with the minimum wage.

People on government payments cannot afford to go out. The payment amounts have NEVER allowed a lavish lifestyle, unless you own multiple properties or a business.

 

[Andrew]

Totally agree with all the other comments. Too many people want something for nothing!.

 

[Rob44]

Raising Centrelink Payments

No I don't think that is wise.
What I want to know is why, those who are elderly and have come to this country years ago, but have not contributed tax wise are now on full pensions. That's my issue with Centrelink payments.

Alas that I came to this country 40 years ago and paid all due taxes..........I wouldn't mind being on a full pension; it would certainly help after doing my best to put my son through two First Class Honours Degrees. He might even help save someone's life; sorry, I forget, he has, for several people.

 

[ja4mary]

I do not believe the rubbish people sprout. I worked from when I arrived in Australia at the age of 21 and retired at 72 only taking minimal time off - for three babies I had a total of 12 months. After 50 years of experience I was not allowed to do that work anymore without a uni degree! I paid taxes in that time, there was no super guarantee as I was 48 when that came in and I was looking after 3 children with next to no help from my ex.
I managed by not going out to things that cost, my children survived without all the tech stuff and with few outings. The children are making up for that now by working hard, saving hard and then being able to go where they wish.

My beef is that the last pension rise was approx 2%, rent assistance actually went down by $1 per week, supplement allowance went up 75cents per week, energy allowance did not change and has not for more than 5 years and cost of living is soaring ...... health insurance +4%, cost of living + "Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics, said: “Increases in annual living costs ranged from 4.0 per cent to 6.9 per cent depending on the expenditure patterns of the different household types, compared to a rise of 4.1 per cent in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the December 2023 quarter."

I have $12000 working credits but what good are they? Even if I could go to work who would employ an almost 76 year old with no uni degree just 50+ years bookkeeping experience.

All the decisions are made by people that get an annual wage increase of more than my annual income. Just totally wrong and the rich just get richer.

 

[Rob44]

I do not believe the rubbish people sprout. I worked from when I arrived in Australia at the age of 21 and retired at 72 only taking minimal time off - for three babies I had a total of 12 months. After 50 years of experience I was not allowed to do that work anymore without a uni degree! I paid taxes in that time, there was no super guarantee as I was 48 when that came in and I was looking after 3 children with next to no help from my ex.
I managed by not going out to things that cost, my children survived without all the tech stuff and with few outings. The children are making up for that now by working hard, saving hard and then being able to go where they wish.

My beef is that the last pension rise was approx 2%, rent assistance actually went down by $1 per week, supplement allowance went up 75cents per week, energy allowance did not change and has not for more than 5 years and cost of living is soaring ...... health insurance +4%, cost of living + "Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics, said: “Increases in annual living costs ranged from 4.0 per cent to 6.9 per cent depending on the expenditure patterns of the different household types, compared to a rise of 4.1 per cent in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the December 2023 quarter."

I have $12000 working credits but what good are they? Even if I could go to work who would employ an almost 76 year old with no uni degree just 50+ years bookkeeping experience.

All the decisions are made by people that get an annual wage increase of more than my annual income. Just totally wrong and the rich just get richer.

Welcome to the land of Waltzing Matilda, the national song about a lazy layabout thief who got sorted out by an active more wealthy thief supported by the police.

 

[emcneil1947&gmail.com]

Definitely NOT. There are jobs out there, may not be the job the would like to do, tough luck, work is work, pays your bills. To suggest that the lazy, unemployed be GIVEN more money is disgusting. WE, the elderly, have to make our pension stretch, to waste it on booze, night clubs, any entertainment, is just unnecessary, waste. GET OUT OF BED, AND GET TO WORK. the work ethic of today is deplorable.

 

[emcneil1947&gmail.com]

I do not believe the rubbish people sprout. I worked from when I arrived in Australia at the age of 21 and retired at 72 only taking minimal time off - for three babies I had a total of 12 months. After 50 years of experience I was not allowed to do that work anymore without a uni degree! I paid taxes in that time, there was no super guarantee as I was 48 when that came in and I was looking after 3 children with next to no help from my ex.
I managed by not going out to things that cost, my children survived without all the tech stuff and with few outings. The children are making up for that now by working hard, saving hard and then being able to go where they wish.

My beef is that the last pension rise was approx 2%, rent assistance actually went down by $1 per week, supplement allowance went up 75cents per week, energy allowance did not change and has not for more than 5 years and cost of living is soaring ...... health insurance +4%, cost of living + "Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics, said: “Increases in annual living costs ranged from 4.0 per cent to 6.9 per cent depending on the expenditure patterns of the different household types, compared to a rise of 4.1 per cent in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the December 2023 quarter."

I have $12000 working credits but what good are they? Even if I could go to work who would employ an almost 76 year old with no uni degree just 50+ years bookkeeping experience.

All the decisions are made by people that get an annual wage increase of more than my annual income. Just totally wrong and the rich just get richer.

Definitely NOT. There are jobs out there, may not be the job the would like to do, tough luck, work is work, pays your bills. To suggest that the lazy, unemployed be GIVEN more money is disgusting. WE, the elderly, have to make our pension stretch, to waste it on booze, night clubs, any entertainment, is just unnecessary, waste. GET OUT OF BED, AND GET TO WORK. the work ethic of today is deplorable.

 

[McGee's Ewe]

I have to question the source of this information. Could it have been written for April 1st. It really is a joke, surely.

 

[Ronloby]

Increasing allowances so they can see "Who Ever" at a concert is a joke. Every Centrelink recipient should have their pay increased to survive the current inflation situation. Pollies on their couple of hundred thousand dollars a year don't have a clue as to what living on 60 to 80 dollars a day is like.