What's in the 2024-25 Federal Budget for the creative & leisure industries?

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The 2024 – 25 Federal Budget has been announced – find key investments for your industries below. 

Tourism, Hospitality, Events, Travel

• Tourism Australia budget funding is maintained at similar levels to current funding.
• Austrade will receive $8m over four years to restart the Approved Destination Status (ADS) scheme to support Chinese group guided tours to Australia in guided groups
• An additional $265.1 million over four years in financial support for apprentices and their employers. Under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System apprentices and employers in priority occupations will receive an extra $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.
• $3.0 million over four years from 2024–25 to deliver on the Government’s commitment for mandatory country of origin labelling for seafood in hospitality settings in collaboration with the states and territories.
• A $25 ballot for working and holiday visas will also be introduced for people coming from China, Vietnam and India from next financial year.
• $1.7 billion over 10 years to support commercialisation of net-zero initiatives including Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), part of the ‘Future Made in Australia’ Innovation Fund
• $101.9 million over five years has been allocated to extend the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program and the Regional Airports Program for two further rounds.
• Revive Live program will provide $8.6m in 2024-25 to support Australian live music venues and festivals.

Arts & Recreation

• After record funding in last year’s Budget for Revive – Australia’s national cultural policy – the 2024-25 Budget includes:
• $115.2 million in operational funding to Australia’s eight national arts training organisations.
• $14.5 million to support the production of Australian children’s screen content.
• $9.3 million to expand and enhance the National Film and Sound Archive’s capacity to store highly flammable nitrate-based cultural heritage material belonging to our national collecting institutions.
• $8.6 million for the Revive Live program to provide essential support to live music venues and festivals showcasing Australian bands and artists.
• $5.2 million to expand and develop the Canberra and Darwin symphony orchestras.
• $97 million over two years to the Australian Sports Commission to extend Sporting Schools, the Local Sporting Champions, and Local Para Champions programs, and participation funding
• $250 million investment in the Australian Institute of Sport facilities in Canberra in preparation for the 2032Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Training

• $26.1 million over four years from 2024–25 for the Skills and Training portfolio to contribute to a strong and effective Vocational Education and Training system, and continue structural reforms. Extra $2,000 for apprentices in priority areas and $1,000 for employers to help offset training costs for employing apprentices.
• $4.4 million in 2024–25 to drive demand for Vocational Education and Training (VET). This will include delivering strategic communications to increase the appeal of VET for students, parents and teachers, and extending community awareness of Fee-Free TAFE courses in areas of high skills needs.

 
The Federal Budget documents may be accessed here

General analysis:
ABC analysis
Centre for Future Work paper
Michelle Grattan on the RBA’s response to the Budget

Travel and tourism:
Tourism and Transport Forum media statement
Travel Weekly reflection.

Print:
Print 21 industry response to the Budget

Arts and recreation:
ArtsHub overview of the Budget
Limelight magazine overview
NAVA responds to the Federal Budget  
Theatre Network Australia’s response
ScreenHub Australia reviews the Budget
A detailed breakdown of investment in the screen and broadcasting sector
Australian Sports Commission welcomes Federal Budget

Training and education:
The Conversation article on higher education
The Conversation article on the Future Made in Australia initiative