Can Centrelink payment hikes boost music festival participation?

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.


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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.
 
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Oh dear me! Boo hoo, you poor youngsters, can’t afford to go out. Never mind,
Do something constructive with your imagination, your ingenuity, your favourite hobby. For a start, volunteer for an organisation, to help animals, help the elderly, help the schools. Don’t expect other people to help you,
 
Seriously, what a ridiculous notion (music festivals / entertainment venues and/ or the like) of reason to 'raise the rate', when so many dire issues of basic needs cannot be met IMHO. I believe one may find, also, the majority of demographic stuck on 'jobseeker' (the dole), are more in the mature ages these days and suffering chronic health conditions (but ineligible to meet the impossible looooooooong list of criteria to be granted a DSP), to which creates massive barriers to secure suitable ' long-term paid employment'. Albeit the welfare system overall for alllllllllllllllll is severely broken.
Making Music festival attendance and/or the like as a 'Centrelink' - welfare payment major debilitating issue for the entertainment industry survival, is just morosely absurd, again JMHO.
 
🤣🤣🤣, perhaps leave “illicit substances” off the shopping list & they may be able to afford legitimate entertainment
SHY has no place in this discussion - she bills the taxpayer for her social life, been caught out on numerous occasions
 
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
 
How about looking after the aged pensioners, most of whom have spent their working lives paying taxes, so they can live above the poverty line.
Most young unemployed people
have yet even started to contribute to society but want money to go to music festivals. I don't think so!!
How about getting a job. I see ads all the time in Coles, Woolies, ALDI, coffee shops, etc looking for workers. Why are we paying people to sit on their rear ends when there is work available.
Of course , I'm not meaning all those poor unemployed lion tamers.🦁
Can't expect them to lower their standards and take a menial job.
 
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Have these young people ever considered working to afford the things in life they want? Probably not! In the meantime, many businesses and services are being forced to close or scale back because they can’t get enough staff! A ridiculous suggestion! Hint to people - you want more out of life? - then go get a job!!
 
Yes it is a silly idea symptomatic of cost of living, which our government is ignoring.

Are any of the people commenting on a government pension? Has anyone tried getting a job in the current climate, where if you are young you are inexperienced, if you are older you are not up to it.
I have degrees and cannot get part time work. Anyone surviving on a government pension or benefits cannot afford to go out.
 

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