Australian live entertainment industry releases Industry Code of Practice

To drive cultural change preventing workplace discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and bullying, Live Performance Australia (LPA) this morning released a draft of its Industry Code of Practice.

The LPA is the peak industry body covering the live entertainment sector, including contemporary music, theatre, musical theatre, opera, ballet, dance, classical, comedy and festivals.

Work on the draft Code began last year. It is now being released to LPA members and the broader live entertainment sector for feedback until March 26.

Its members include producers, music promoters, major performing arts companies, small to medium arts companies. Independent producers, performing arts centres, metropolitan and regional venues, commercial theatres, stadiums and arenas, arts festivals, music festivals, and service providers such as ticketing companies and technical suppliers.

While many entertainment associations have their own procedures to deal with complaints, LPA says its approach is for a long term cultural change.

Chief executive Evelyn Richardson said, “People who work in our industry expect and deserve leadership from us on these issues, as do our audiences and the wider community.

“A best practice industry-wide approach is important given the mobility of our workforce and the differences among our members in respect of company resources and scale.

“Each and every member of our industry must be aware of their legal responsibilities and their duty of care to their employees and have policies, procedures, education and training in place to deal with these issues.”

Richardson added that the draft Code would be “particularly helpful for small to medium sized companies which may need additional support in strengthening or improving their in-house policies and capabilities.”

The Code offers definitions of harassment, workplace bullying, sexual harassment, vilification and victimisation.

It offers what laws cover these, developing policies to prevent these, how to regularly communicate these to staff and executives, and how to handle and investigate complaints.

The full draft Code is viewed at the LPA website.

The Code is just one of the initiatives planned by LPA to cover the issues.

The others include:

* a national roadshow to educate LPA members about the Code with briefings targeted at CEOs, company owners and senior managers and will include specialist workplace training;

* participation in an industry roundtable being convened by the Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Commissioner;

* working with the MEAA (Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance), the union and industry advocate, on these workplace issues and is engaged in discussions on further cooperation;

* examining options to improve industry education and training, including in person and online delivery of training and resources to strengthen capability among industry workers and leaders.