‘We fall in the cracks when it comes to JobKeeper’: Rob Mills reveals the struggle performers face amid the coronavirus epidemic as he launches online singing competition
Rob Mills has revealed the struggle he faces as a performer amid the coronavirus epidemic.
Speaking to Channel Seven on Friday, the 37-year-old revealed that he was about to star in a stage production when it was shut down.
He said: ‘I was about to do a musical – a brand-new show called Midnight that was going to launch at Her Majesty’s Theatre.
Hard: Rob Mills (pictured) has revealed the struggle he faces as a performer amid the coronavirus epidemic. Speaking to Channel Seven on Friday, the 37-year-old revealed that he was about to star in a stage production when it was shut down
‘But everything’s been shut down. Every musical around the country, every pub, every live venue – every single musician and actor have been hit hard.’
Rob went on to say that the federal government’s JobKeeper allowance, which pays eligible employers $1,500 per fortnight, does not apply to many performers.
The federal government will pay eligible employers $1,500 per fortnight for each eligible worker.
He said: ‘I was about to do a musical – a brand-new show called Midnight that was going to launch at Her Majesty’s Theatre. But everything’s been shut down. Every musical around the country, every pub, every live venue – every single musician and actor have been hit hard’
Difficult: Rob went on to say that the federal government’s JobKeeper allowance, which pays eligible employers $1,500 per fortnight, does not apply to many performers
He added that the $1,100 JobSeeker payment was also hard for people in the arts to access.
‘Unfortunately, the government hasn’t really come to the party. We fall in the cracks when it comes to JobSeeker and JobKeeper,’ Rob said.
To keep himself busy, the former Australian Idol star has launched an online singing competition, Homegrown Superstars.
Cool! To keep himself busy, the former Australian Idol star has launched an online singing competition, Homegrown Superstars
Pitching in: Famous faces like Casey Donovan (pictured) have stepped in to help the judging, and it’s all done online
Every week a bedroom singer competes to win $250 for themselves or $200 for a charity.
Famous faces like Casey Donovan have stepped in to help the judging, and it’s all done online.
Rob told The Herald Sun: ‘We have such a vibrant music community and some of the most talented global singers in the world.
‘Now we can find these hidden stars at home.’
Rob told The Herald Sun : ‘We have such a vibrant music community and some of the most talented global singers in the world. Now we can find these hidden stars at home’