Australia’s largest music industry body representing the rights of over 115,000 songwriters, composers and publishers across Australasia, APRA AMCOS welcomes the appointment of the inaugural Creative Workplaces Council.
Creative Workplaces is a new body established as part Creative Australia, the renewed Australia Council for the Arts, and will be charged with working across the arts, cultural and creative industries to raise and set workplace standards for artists and workers.
“Everyone has the right to work in an environment free from bullying, sexual harassment, sexual assault, discrimination and exclusion,” said Dean Ormston Chief Executive APRA AMCOS.
“The establishment of Creative Workplaces and the appointment of this Council by Minister for the Arts Tony Burke MP is a critical next step to help work with industry to create the safe workplaces artists and industry workers deserve.
“Last year the music industry came together to commission the Raising Their Voices report to investigate sexual harm, sexual harassment and systemic discrimination across the sector. It was a watershed moment and provided a blueprint on how we can take action to make the industry safer, more inclusive, more respectful, and ultimately stronger.”
The appointments are:
“We welcome the appointment of former sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins AO as Chair. Ms Jenkins' groundbreaking Respect@Work report highlighted the pervasiveness of discrimination across the arts sector. Importantly, the Report also identified that people experience multiple forms of intersecting discrimination and harassment, for example on the basis of gender, race, disability or sexuality. We welcome the intersectional lens that Ms Jenkins will bring to this role which we hope will help address the serious disadvantage still experienced by many who remain under-represented and voiceless in our creative industries,” Dean Ormston said.
“APRA AMCOS also welcomes the appointment of singer, songwriter and Musicians Union representative Ruth Hazleton to the Council. Her years of experience writing, performing, touring and exporting Australian music brings a vital perspective from the music industry.
“APRA AMCOS remains ready to support the work of the Creative Workplaces Council to further implement the recommendations of the Raising Their Voices report and to create a safe and supportive workplace for everyone in our industry.”