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.

 

[cruisequeen]

definetely not !!!!!!

 

[AlanQ]

Maybe get a job working at one of these music festivals. Best option is to increase the hours or amount that can be earnt in a part time job before it impacts on any benefit. The allowance is a taxpayer funded payment to help LOOK for work, not plan your music festival calendar. Look at the number of international students that this country charges FULL FEES to attend a uni they do whatever it takes to pay their rent, food delivery, basic hospitality jobs as they don't get ANY welfare payments.

 

[SeniorRikie]

WTF .... Centrelink is supposed to be a payment to support those IN NEED to supply the basics of life while looking for a JOB. It was never intended to be a lifestyle choice and should never be this. If the entertainment industry is suffering, maybe they could look at REDUCING their prices to be more affordable for those that are WORKING and still on the poverty line. Remember those rare young people that would rather WORK than accept the DOLE even though they earn less than the dole pays? There are some out there still that get NO benefits but still continue to work and set a good example for their "peers".
If the basic centrelink payment is not enough, maybe they could start teaching them to BUDGET and how to forgo the 'luxuries' until they start to EARN their own money.
DISCLAIMER: This in no way is to apply to those that have 'real issues' and for whatever reason cannot work, just those that 'choose' not to work.

 

[bluesbrother]

One silly statement from a not-so-young part bar owner/performer/techno DJ in Adelaide and almost everyone here starts hitting on young people. Raising Centrelink payments so music festivals and youth music venues (aka bars/pubs) can survive is not the reason those payments should rise. Humane survival in a cost-of-living and housing crisis driven by the big end of town's staggeringly increasing profit margins (aka greed) is the reason. All Centrelink payments. Read the ACOSS recommendations if you want the nitty-gritty. Apparently $80 a day is the max any pensioner might get. In 2 years I've never had more than this month's almost $59 a day, which puts me $5 a day ahead of the dole. According to APRA (aka the AU music rights monopoly), insurance profit 2023 in this sector is up 408% on 2022. That's $4.8 billion. Venues/ festivals are forced to pay huge sums to insurers, then participating performers are forced to do the same, be it at a micro level. Just to correct the misconception of some commenters on here, 99.9% of 'independent entertainers in AU earn less than $20K a yr (AIMA). As elsewhere, don't be fooled by the media's obsession with that 0.1%. I've worked most of life across two art forms in 6 different ways and, ignoring awards, never made more than $35K in a yr - in the good years.

 

[ARL]

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.

Love to know specifically where these jobs are? Latest figure show a rise in unemployment.

 

[Janice McKay]

You know, us Senior citizens would love extra money so we could enjoy a night out ourselves. But, we've done our time in employment and are now retired, but we are not dead. How about trying to really trying to get a job so you can afford to go to festivals like we did in our younger days. Didn't expect the government or our parents to pay for our extra curricular enjoyments. The young ones today expect everything to be handed to them. Sorry precious, but you have to work for your enjoyments in this life.

 

[beauravn]

Of course not! What a ludicrous idea. For one thing, for young people, just as important as buying tickets is buying the right 'festival gear', i.e. clothing, accessories, secret stash containers, etc. The 'right look' usually costs more than the tickets. Do you also allow enough in this supposed 'entertainment subsidy' to cover 'sundry expenses' too?

IMO there should be a base rate that is purely 'subsistence money' to survive while looking for work, plus a new government scheme that allows young, healthy people to earn extra amounts by doing volunteer community service work. That way, young people wanting to go to music festivals, etc, are still able to go to festivals and other events, buy 'festival gear', etc, by working on a part-time volunteer basis in exchange for those extra benefits. It is a 'give and take' concept that teaches young people that they can't simply get what they want as free handouts, they still have to work to get the extra 'comforts of life'. This is a key mindset... you get given what you NEED to survive and earn what you WANT to live! Needless to say, such a concept also provides community organisations with the extra part-time workers they need, as well as subsidising the arts and entertainment industries by providing opportunities to sell more event tickets. In fact, you could even go as far as providing job agencies with tickets and promo posters, etc, together with a list of volunteer jobs eligible young people can do to earn them. Nothing is free!

 

[mylittletibbies]

One silly statement from a not-so-young part bar owner/performer/techno DJ in Adelaide and almost everyone here starts hitting on young people. Raising Centrelink payments so music festivals and youth music venues (aka bars/pubs) can survive is not the reason those payments should rise. Humane survival in a cost-of-living and housing crisis driven by the big end of town's staggeringly increasing profit margins (aka greed) is the reason. All Centrelink payments. Read the ACOSS recommendations if you want the nitty-gritty. Apparently $80 a day is the max any pensioner might get. In 2 years I've never had more than this month's almost $59 a day, which puts me $5 a day ahead of the dole. According to APRA (aka the AU music rights monopoly), insurance profit 2023 in this sector is up 408% on 2022. That's $4.8 billion. Venues/ festivals are forced to pay huge sums to insurers, then participating performers are forced to do the same, be it at a micro level. Just to correct the misconception of some commenters on here, 99.9% of 'independent entertainers in AU earn less than $20K a yr (AIMA). As elsewhere, don't be fooled by the media's obsession with that 0.1%. I've worked most of life across two art forms in 6 different ways and, ignoring awards, never made more than $35K in a yr - in the good years.

Very interesting to have an opinion from someone in the know.
Those of us not involved in the industry actually have no idea of what is involved.
Nonetheless I feel that those unemployed should be grateful to receive a payment as many countries do not give one.
I do agree though if we are going to provide welfare then it should at least be enough to survive on.

 

[Rob44]

Never mind raising the dole for these people, force the into employment then they can enjoy nights out.

There are plenty of we golden oldies still fit enough to get an evening job cleaning toilets. Why pay these fortunate people a pension? Corporate buildings have lifts so you don't have to walk up and down stairs between floors and it is not heavy work that taxes one's limbs. You can do 4 toilets a floor for 8 floors in the 3 hours between 5pm and 8pm and be home in time to watch a movie on SBS before bedtime. It is essential, socially rewarding work that will make many people feel happy next day when they go to the bog.

 

[Harc1]

NO

 

[Rob44]

Of course not! What a ludicrous idea. For one thing, for young people, just as important as buying tickets is buying the right 'festival gear', i.e. clothing, accessories, secret stash containers, etc. The 'right look' usually costs more than the tickets. Do you also allow enough in this supposed 'entertainment subsidy' to cover 'sundry expenses' too?

IMO there should be a base rate that is purely 'subsistence money' to survive while looking for work, plus a new government scheme that allows young, healthy people to earn extra amounts by doing volunteer community service work. That way, young people wanting to go to music festivals, etc, are still able to go to festivals and other events, buy 'festival gear', etc, by working on a part-time volunteer basis in exchange for those extra benefits. It is a 'give and take' concept that teaches young people that they can't simply get what they want as free handouts, they still have to work to get the extra 'comforts of life'. This is a key mindset... you get given what you NEED to survive and earn what you WANT to live! Needless to say, such a concept also provides community organisations with the extra part-time workers they need, as well as subsidising the arts and entertainment industries by providing opportunities to sell more event tickets. In fact, you could even go as far as providing job agencies with tickets and promo posters, etc, together with a list of volunteer jobs eligible young people can do to earn them. Nothing is free!

Can't we just bring back public floggings with a cat o'nine tails for those who want money for not working? It would be less expensive than paying politicians' salaries!
?

 

[mOiOz]

GREAT IDEA..., if you want them to spend more money on drugs...!!! One of the main attractions at EVERY concert.

 

[geister r]

This is horsesh*t it's an industry grasping at straws the unemployed only make up 3.8% of the population, forty of that number are over 50 right now I think if you brought job keeper youth allowance in line with the pension most of it would be sucked away in just staying alive those of you on a pension here in the comments have a look at your own situation do you think theirs is any better unless they are at home with mum and dad. Jobseeker and disposable income in 2024 only if you're living on the streets.

 

[alex1936]

I don't think it is fair to increase C/L payments for young people - so they can spend their leisure time attending cultural events- music festivals, have more spare time for the beach, instead of them making harder effort to find a job, they have a whole life in front of them to make their life the way they wanted to- by taking the initiatives and hard efforts to study to obtain the profession and have part time job while studying There are so many jobs available fo those who are willing to work.
Pensioners who work hard whole their life to support Country economy going, payng their taxes deserve a better support from Centrelink to help them to battle constantly rising lliving costs - food, rents, housing maintenants costs - electricioty, gas, council rates etc.
I don't think Centrelink have the right priority in distribution of Government money, especially to those who deserve and needs it most to support their rising living costs

 

[Jansom]

No most of these people have never had a job or paid tax where as pensioner's had paid their taxes so they deserve their money. If they raise centrelink payments then they should raise pensioner's too.

 

[Jest]

I managed to grow up without having to be entertained. If I wished to go I would pay my money as I worked. The problem is now we have such a stupid government they would probably dish out to these, and please don't forget the drugs they have to have to attend said concerts. Do they, or some get almost the same as a pensioner? The world has gone mad.

 

[grumpyhendo]

Not at all. Music festivals are where the drugs and alcohol cultures take over and there a much better way to spend your money. Where some welfare recipients are cutting back on food etc it would be a slap in the face if younger generations got given an increase to go out to enjoy a night doing recreational drugs and booze.

 

[Jest]

Why increase payments for the young just help them entertain themselves
Read a book , learn something and get a job
If living expenses are too high and difficult for them imagine what the elderly feel and have coped with everyday cause our government is too busy spending money overseas on aid and helping war effort in Ukrain
Charity begins at home so help the people who really need it too live not to those who want to party

i have no objection to helping Ukraine and Israel. Both countries did not start the war.

 

[Ronald1912]

No. Centrelink payments should not be adjusted in the manner suggested. It's just a sneaky way of another industry looking for a government hand out because they aren't making enough money. I'm in favour of free enterprise not the government providing subsidies to all and sundry.

 

[millsrj1953]

No