Live Performance Australia has called on the Turnbull Government to provide more incentives to support innovation and original Australian live performance works in its 2018-19 Pre-Budget Submission. The industry peak body has made a number of recommendations designed to drive innovation and job creation in the $2.5 billion live performance industry, including establishing a major seed fund of $20 million over four years for original Australian works of scale.

Drover's Wife, Live Performance AustraliaLeah Purcell’s The Drover’s Wife won Best New Australian Work at this year’s Helpmann Awards, produced by Live Performance Australia. Photo © Brett Boardman

“After years of funding cuts and a lack of strategic direction, the Turnbull Government now has an opportunity to support innovation, creativity and growth across our live performance industry through these sensible and targeted budget measures,” said LPA Chief Executive Evelyn Richardson.

Among its recommendations, LPA has called on the Federal Government to provide tax incentives on pre-production costs for live productions to assist Australian producers to finance the staging of new productions and attract investment, provide an additional $5 million over four years for international touring of Australian productions, as well as providing an additional $14 million over...