2024-07-25
The Greens are calling on the AFL to replace American singer Katy Perry with an Australian musician to headline the Grand Final.
The Greens’ call comes as a House Committee holds hearings into the future of Australia’s live music industry, after several challenging years with Covid lockdowns and climate-induced catastrophic weather, and the cost-of-living crisis causing festival cancellations and closing venues.
Greens Spokesperson for the Arts and Chair of the Senate inquiry into Labor’s cultural policy, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The AFL should be platforming an Australian performer, not an American popstar.
“Aussie rules football should always be supporting Aussie artists, many of whom are footy fans, but at a time when Australia’s live music industry is struggling, the AFL had an opportunity to show their support.
“The nation’s biggest sporting event for our homegrown game, should be giving the stage to a homegrown artist.
“Earlier this year, the Senate Inquiry heard compelling evidence that the government needs to step in to help our performing artists. Live performance has flow-on economic benefits to hospitality, tourism, trades, and other sectors.
“The Greens have been urging the Labor Government to do more to support the live performance sector, including underwriting insurance, providing an artist’s living wage, and live music grants. We also support the call for all international touring artists to be required to have an Australian support act.
“Australia’s performing artists are there for us in times of need, and now they need the whole community behind them which should include our biggest sporting league.
“I urge the AFL to let Aussie artists roar at the Grand Final and show the 100,000 fans at the ‘G’ that Aussie really does rule.”