The federal government's $250 million funding boost to the arts and entertainment sector was about "getting the show back on the road" for an industry decimated by coronavirus shutdowns, the Prime Minister has said.
The package, the details of which were released overnight, comes after widespread calls within the creative industries for additional support, with much of its contract and casual-based workforce ineligible for the JobKeeper wage subsidy.
It includes $75 million in grants to provide capital for new festivals, concerts and tours, $90 in concessional loans to help fund new productions and $50 million to help film and television producers to secure finance and restart production.
A further $35 million has been allocated in direct financial assistance for Commonwealth-funded organisations struggling to stay viable, including theatre, dance, music and circus.
Scott Morrison acknowledged the devastating impact that coronavirus measures have had on the industry.
"This sector has had their business taken away from them overnight," Mr Morrison said.
"Their venue has gone to zero – they haven't gone down by 30 percent or 40 per cent. The only thing that gets that back is the productions getting back up and running again."
Australian singer Guy Sebastian welcomed the boost to the sector, saying the government's "quick" response would help keep thousands of people in jobs.
"There is a whole ecosystem under an artist like myself," he said.
He said the huge lag between receiving funds and the actual opening of a tour or concert meant that without additional funds many talented artists would have left the sector.
As theatres and other large venues look to reopen, Mr Morrison has urged state governments to press on with plans to reopen despite the recent urge in coronavirus infections in Melbourne.
"There are a few challenges in Melbourne at the moment but as we said, there will be outbreaks," he said.
"We cant go stop, go. Stop, go. We can't flick the light on and off."
The prime minister said the focus on the economic restart needed to remain as the nation adjusted to living alongside the disease.
"We are dealing with the coronavirus, the COVID-19, better than almost any country in the world and that's got to give us confidence to be able to move ahead," Mr Morrison said.
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