Page 255 - Week 01 - Thursday, 12 February 2015
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The value of live music should be considered when decisions on land use, planning and building controls are being made, along with other considerations such as financial return and meeting demands for residential development. There is a spectrum of live music activities in Canberra ranging from large-scale events through to emerging bands practicing in garages in the suburbs.
Each of these faces a range of issues. Consistent across all of them are noise issues, a lack of appropriate venues and transport options. Each of these types of music activity will require different responses, ranging from assisting in making venues available and assessing transport options, through to soundproofing and zoning.
As far back as 2009 the ACT Greens instigated an Assembly inquiry into live music events. The 2010 report on the inquiry into live community events contained over 30 recommendations. Mr Coe will recall the inquiry; I believe Ms Porter was on it too, as well as my former colleague Caroline Le Couteur. The committee, of course, famously traipsed around the live music venues of Brisbane. I can picture the three members of the Assembly taking in those live music occasions. It is a picture that we can all––
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: I believe the members did very much enjoy that experience, Mr Rattenbury, and I believe the members of that committee gained a lot of insight at that particular––
MR RATTENBURY: So I understand, because the committee was a very productive committee. It came out with a unanimous report and there was unanimous support from all three parties across the recommendations, which I think was a very positive outcome. I think it reflected the fact that the committee took the issue very seriously and looked at a range of options.
That is what I am hoping to continue today because I think there is a recognition across the chamber of the importance of the live music scene and the need to deal with these issues. Probably each of us in this place has been approached by constituents with a range of perspectives in this debate—residents who are concerned by noise, and musicians and artists who are concerned by the increasing constraints.
Certainly, the committee made far-reaching recommendations. The 32 recommendations covered nine broad areas, including noise standards and complaints, establishing entertainment precincts, noise attenuation in new residential developments in the city and town centres and in new venues, workplace health and safety issues for workers in venues, issues around liquor licensing, the issue of transport late at night, access to venues and multipurpose facilities, public liability insurance, and security and policing. So it was a very comprehensive report that the committee put together.
In 2011 the ACT government provided a response to the recommendations. Now it is 2015 and I think it is timely to revisit the recommendations and look at progress that has been made and at areas that need more work.
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