Musicians' Rights in Western Australia

Western Australia has made one of the clearest recent funding commitments to contemporary music in the country, and it has backed the national fair-pay benchmark.

The state fund: the Contemporary Music Fund

Music funding in WA runs through the Contemporary Music Fund. The headline commitment: "From 1 July 2025, the WA Government will invest an additional $2.75 million to the WA contemporary music sector over 2025-26 to 2028-29."

That package is split across grants and a dedicated live music component, including $1.5 million for competitive CMF grants and a $1.25 million Live Music Package covering a new WA Gig Guide and WA Music Week.

For individual artists, the CMF Development Program offers "up to $20,000 funding for professional development, sector development, international, national, and regional touring/showcasing opportunities, and recording and promotional activities."

Fair pay: the $250 minimum fee

The national benchmark for what you should be paid comes from Musicians Australia: "A minimum fee is a fee floor, for any musician, playing anywhere, for any audience." Western Australia is one of the governments that has formally backed this benchmark: "Thanks to the collective work of our members, Musicians Australia has since received endorsement for the $250 minimum fee from the South Australian, Queensland, Western Australian, Victorian and Australian Capital Territory state/territory governments."

Legal help: contracts, disputes and your rights

For anything involving a contract, unpaid fees or a dispute, the Arts Law Centre of Australia is the first stop for most musicians. Their telephone advice service is free for eligible individual artists. WA also has an active peak body, WAM (West Australian Music), which runs advocacy on musicians' behalf. Musicians Australia members can get support chasing unpaid minimum fees.