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Labor promises $28m for Australian music industry

Courtney Barnett performing during the 32nd ARIA Awards in Sydney this week.

Courtney Barnett performing during the 32nd ARIA Awards in Sydney this week. Photo: AAP

Federal Labor is hoping to unearth another Courtney Barnett by putting Australia’s music scene on the national political agenda.

“We want to inspire the next generation of Australian artists and to see more international success stories,” Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said on Friday.

The federal opposition has promised $28 million to go towards music programs over three years, which includes education, live music and plans to prevent ticket scalping.

Funding will be doubled for a program to allow 20 new Australian artists to record an EP.

Mr Shorten said artists such as the Grammy-nominated Barnett and up-and-coming indie star Alex the Astronaut had benefited from the program.

Barnett was one of the big winners at this week’s ARIA awards, becoming the first female solo artist to win best rock album.

Labor’s music policy also includes measures to crack down on ticket scalping websites.

The plan is to ban so-called “bot software” so professional ticket scalpers can’t rapidly purchase tickets.

“We’re making a real difference to people who want to go to music or sporting events, stopping the bots getting on the sites and taking up to 30 per cent of tickets,” Labor’s Anthony Albanese told the Nine Network.

Labor has also committed $10 million to Sounds Australia, which helps with the live music scene.

An additional $7 million will go towards music education, including the expansion of school programs SongMakers and Song Room.

-AAP

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