Mitch Fifield was long overdue for his Barnsey fix.
The last time he saw the rocker it was 1984.
But, alas, the communications minister was stuck in a cabinet meeting when Jimmy Barnes treated MPs to a rendition of Flame Trees in the grounds of Parliament House on Tuesday night.
"I was very annoyed," Senator Fifield admitted to the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday.
His Liberal colleague Ewen Jones, who helped organise the Parliamentary Friends of Australian Music event, would like to see music taken out of the arts portfolio and put into innovation and small business instead.
The minister concedes it's a good point even though the arts is an important part of creative industries.
"We need to look broadly to see what we can do to help them be competitive," he said.
Senator Fifield foreshadowed further assistance, saying the government's innovation statement was the first not the last word.
"If you're to be a truly innovative society, you've got to recognise that the arts are at the heart of helping create a culture that is broad-thinking, that supports and fosters creativity."
Barnes called for more funding for rock music after the concert.
"I've seen a lot of great musicians, a lot of great songwriters, come and starve to death and disappear," he said.
He also asked for Canberra help with state lockout laws.
Senator Fifield said while he had some sympathy for musicians, he didn't have responsibility for liquor licensing laws.
