Labor Promise To Scrap Restrictions On NSW Live Music Venues Ahead Of Next Election

The NSW Labor Party has today shared their plans for Sydney's "music venue crisis" at a press conference. 

The announcement comes after the release of The Music & Arts Economy In New South Wales report last month, following an inquiry into the NSW music industry.

The Hon. John Graham, MLC, Shadow Minister for Gaming and Racing, Shadow Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Shadow Minister for the Night Time Economy and Music, and Shadow Minister for Forestry, has said that the party will "scrap" restrictions against music venues in the city if elected. 

"The NSW music industry has massive potential but we’ve got a grassroots music venue crisis," said Graham today.

"We’ve lost hundreds of venues, thousands of jobs; musicians, hospital workers out of work. Well, this is a plan to turn that around. 

"In particular, we’ll scrap, in a single piece of legislation, the 669 venues that have got entertainment restrictions on them, telling bands how many people can take the stage, which instruments they can play, what direction they can face, and what type of music they can play, saying they have to play country and western, or they can’t play disco or pop. 

"Well, that will end in a single piece of legislation so it’s very good news for the music sector today. This is the plan to turn things around in Sydney, New South Wales for the music sector."

Tim Levinson, AKA Urthboy, was also present at the event and shared that musicians "don’t want handouts."

"We just want fairness and respect. We’ll take it from there."

Leader Of The Opposition Michael Daley, Sydney Fringe Festival CEO Kerri Glasscock, Mayor of the Inner West Council Darcy Byrne, Member For Summer Hill Jo Haylen, and Labor Candidate For Balmain Elly Howse also spoke at the event.