Tuesday, 31 October 2023

 Colin BROOKS (Bundoora – Minister for Development Victoria, Minister for Precincts, Minister for Creative Industries) (13:34): Victoria is the cultural capital of the nation. Victorians have flocked back to Creative October, a month chock-a-block with events such as Melbourne Fringe, with 461 events and more than 3000 performances at 148 venues; the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, with 53,000 people attending 140 performances, including by international superstars Chaka Khan and Nile Rodgers. For live music, rock The Eighty-Six festival in Melbourne’s north, with over 220 gigs at more than 60 venues. Victoria is Australia’s home for digital games, and Melbourne International Games Week presented more than 70 events; Big Games Night Out attracted 6000 people to Fed Square; and PAX Aus was the biggest yet, with more than 82,000 games fans attending. Four thousand people snapped up tickets to the Wheeler Centre’s Spring Fling. Sound Tracks saw a steam train carry music fans from Melbourne to Charlton for a live music festival. And the Live Music for Flood Recovery program saw 11 events in flood-impacted communities, including Rochella at Rochester, with 1500 people attending. The Ballarat International Foto Biennale attracted more than 30,000 – and there is more, like Craft Contemporary and the return season of the fantastic Moulin Rouge! And the 2023 Music Victoria Awards are on tonight to honour and celebrate our world-leading music industry. Here in Victoria the creativity does not stop, and there is plenty more to look forward to across the summer months.