The Australian Festival Association (AFA) has shared a statement welcoming the Liberal-National Coalition’s promise to cut red tape for live music ahead of the Victorian state election this month.
The Coalition has pledged to reduce red tape for music festivals and introduce a 24-Hour Economy, Music and Events Advocate – like the Commissioner role that exists in NSW – to the state government. The Advocate would lead reforms and serve as a key point of contact for music venues, promoters, and festival organisers.
In its pledge, the Coalition said it would streamline approvals for music festivals and outdoor events by combining the requirements for traffic, policing, and liquor licensing. It would also make Place of Public Entertainment permits easier to apply for, as well as gain approvals – a long-awaited reform by the AFA.
At the time of publication, Victoria is the only state in Australia that maintains a separate PoPE permit system for entertainment events and pop-up events, duplicating the work required to put on an event and leading to delays and increased costs.
No matter who wins the forthcoming election, the AFA will continue advocating for dedicated music festival grants.
“Having a dedicated advocate inside government with a clear mandate to work closely with industry, drive reform and fast-track approval processes for festivals would be a game changer for our sector,” said Australian Festival Association CEO, Lizzie Butterworth.
“This is about making it easier to put on festivals, reducing unnecessary barriers and allowing the industry to focus on what it does best: delivering incredible cultural experiences, supporting local economies and bringing communities together."
The Victorian election takes place on Saturday, 28 November.
If re-elected, Vic Labor intends to safeguard the local live music scene by creating live music precincts to protect spaces from noise complaints, streamline red tape for permits and noise, and step in to help, promising more gigs and mandating local music spots in advertising.
Labor’s Minister for Creative Industries Vicki Ward said, “From the small pub gig to the all-ages show, live music is where Victorians love to come together – and venues deserve the confidence to keep bringing us those moments, not held up with a maze of red tape holding them back.
“We back venues to do what they do best to create the shared experiences that connect us, support local jobs, and keep Victoria's live music scene Australia’s number one.”
