Creative Australia, Music Australia and Creative Workplaces now law

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering increased investment and better support for Australian musicians and artists with the Creative Australia Bill passing Parliament today.

The Creative Australia Bill establishes two new bodies within Creative Australia, the new name for the Government’s principal arts investment and advisory body.

Music Australia will deliver targeted support and investment to empower Australia’s contemporary music industry to rebuild and realise its local and global potential.

Backed by more than $69 million in funding over four years, the creation of Music Australia responds directly to calls for change from the sector – delivering dedicated support to grow Australia’s contemporary music industry.

It will grow the market for contemporary Australian music, deliver song writing and recording initiatives in schools, support industry professionals to learn business and management skills, and provide central coordination around access to live music venues for bands and solo artists.

The other new body is Creative Workplaces – which will raise and set workplace standards across all art forms, with organisations seeking federal Government funding being expected to adhere to these standards.

The legislation also establishes the governing Board for Creative Australia, which will continue to be known as the Australia Council Board.



Arts Minister Tony Burke said the Parliament has decided that our culture and stories matter.

“This is a decision for safe creative workplaces and for our music to be the soundtrack to life in Australia.

“Australian artists have been calling out for drive, direction, and vision. This delivers on that call.

“Arts workers are essential workers. They deserve safe workplaces and fair pay, like any other worker. Creative Workplaces will ensure that.

“For too long Australian contemporary music has been ignored by government. Music Australia will change that.

“Creative Australia means there’ll now be a single body – regardless of whether the work is supported by government, philanthropists or is purely commercial.

“After a decade of culture wars and neglect under the previous government – we’re supporting, respecting and funding the Australian arts sector.”



Backed by $286 million in dedicated funding over four years, Revive is breathing new life into this $17 billion industry – which employs an estimated 400,000 Australians – after a lost decade of federal policy drift and funding neglect.

Future legislation will embed a First Nations led body within Creative Australia and also establish Writer’s Australia.



To read the National Cultural Policy in full, visit: www.arts.gov.au/culturalpolicy