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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That is a joke right,I am a pensioner and I live to my means and after working for 52 years I still cannot afford to go to concerts and mingle with like people,are these young people really serious about getting a job or starting an apprenticeship or career,life is certainly much easier today for young people with so many opportunities outside the social circle
 
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Reactions: ARL
I suggest those young people get a job, it’s ludicrous to increase their payments so they can attend these events..seriously, do you honestly think that’s were they’re going to spend this increase.
better yet, why not increase the pensions by the same amount, so the oldies can enjoy trapping around Australia, I’m sure that will benefit the communities more, than these one off events
 
They should get a job . Why should other people pay for them to go to concerts etc. Maybe they can give up mobile phones and cigarettes
 
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Reactions: siameezer
That is a joke right,I am a pensioner and I live to my means and after working for 52 years I still cannot afford to go to concerts and mingle with like people,are these young people really serious about getting a job or starting an apprenticeship or career,life is certainly much easier today for young people with so many opportunities outside the social circle
You can be assured that most or all the people criticising here are not reliant upon a government pension. They have no idea and are among the privileged who have disposable incomes.
It would be nice if they would check their facts first.
I do not agree life is easier for young people as cost of living has far outstripped wages, job seeker and the pension. Nor ate there jobs available to 'walk in to'. Unemployment is increasing according to the latest figures, and as usual it does not include under employment where people are working less hours
 
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Reactions: siameezer
Kids have money spare, did you see the crowd at Party in the Paddock, and it started on a THURSDAY, heaps of kids there, they probably were the ones who don't work, how else would they be able to go to a FESTIVAL in the middle of the week. BOO HOO
 
If they want to attend these events, how about getting a job. It is not a rite of passage for tax payers to fund their entertainment
Where did a kid ask for government money to attend a concert? It was a suggestion from concert promoters.
 
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Kids have money spare, did you see the crowd at Party in the Paddock, and it started on a THURSDAY, heaps of kids there, they probably were the ones who don't work, how else would they be able to go to a FESTIVAL in the middle of the week. BOO HOO
And you know they were unemployed how? Do you have never been out on a thursday evening?
 
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No. Let them get jobs to support their entertainment habits. It was stated that the pension is $80 per day which totals $1120 over the 14 days, and I don’t know any pensioner getting that much. That is $400 more than I receive and I have no other income. Today’s youth are spoilt in the majority and expect too much to be given to them. JMO.
 
No. Let them get jobs to support their entertainment habits. It was stated that the pension is $80 per day which totals $1120 over the 14 days, and I don’t know any pensioner getting that much. That is $400 more than I receive and I have no other income. Today’s youth are spoilt in the majority and expect too much to be given to them. JMO.
Um that is about right for the full pension unless you have other income or exceed the asset limit. How are the young spoilt given the cost of accommodation, gig Economy and lower job seeker rate? Plus the latest figures show unemployment is increasing
 
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Omg! What about us pensioners and disability recipient. Are we not entitled to the extra payment? And I guarantee that 99% of us would be spending it on utilities or food, not music, drugs & booze.
 
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Reactions: Chays
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.
It is a problem if you can`t get a job in your area. And now it`s harder for young people to even get part time work in Supermarkets, since a lot have gone to self serve, and only have a couple of Staffed checkouts. But, unfortunately there is so many young ones on the dole, who smoke, have up todate mobile phones, covered in Tattoos and hardware in face and ears. One sees them in the street, hanging out, and buying their cigarettes at the Supermarket, which aren`t cheap. ARL, good luck with finding a job.
 
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Where are all these jobs? I would like to know.
All supermarkets constantly have jobs advertised on their noticeboards. I have also seen coffee shops with notices in their windows, restaurants and cafes wanting wait staff.
If you want a job bad enough you will find one.
Supermarkets and Bunnings also hire seniors.
 
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It is a problem if you can`t get a job in your area. And now it`s harder for young people to even get part time work in Supermarkets, since a lot have gone to self serve, and only have a couple of Staffed checkouts. But, unfortunately there is so many young ones on the dole, who smoke, have up todate mobile phones, covered in Tattoos and hardware in face and ears. One sees them in the street, hanging out, and buying their cigarettes at the Supermarket, which aren`t cheap. ARL, good luck with finding a job.
I was told by a couple of girls who work in Coles that they can't get enough staff and that is the reason they don't have more manned checkouts.
This didn't come from the management but from the staff, and I have seen the sign in that particular store, advertising for staff, for many months now.
Seems a lot of uneducated people think it is below them to work in a supermarket.
Not too many jobs going around for uneducated, learn on the job, rocket scientists and CEOs
these days.
Young people seem to want to start off where their parents finished. Not only in jobs, but also homes, cars etc.
Good things come come to those who wait (and work)
so they say.
 
I was told by a couple of girls who work in Coles that they can't get enough staff and that is the reason they don't have more manned checkouts.
This didn't come from the management but from the staff, and I have seen the sign in that particular store, advertising for staff, for many months now.
Seems a lot of uneducated people think it is below them to work in a supermarket.
Not too many jobs going around for uneducated, learn on the job, rocket scientists and CEOs
these days.
Young people seem to want to start off where their parents finished. Not only in jobs, but also homes, cars etc.
Good things come come to those who wait (and work)
so they say.
Not certain about the staffed checkouts. My local coles has no signs up for staff and almost never has manned checkout open
 
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Not certain about the staffed checkouts. My local coles has no signs up for staff and almost never has manned checkout open
Maybe they've given up, you can always ask. Where I live Coles, Woolies and Aldi are all advertising for staff. Do you read their noticeboards, I've noticed most people don't.
 

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