Controversial NSW Music Festival License Changes Set To Be Investigated

The NSW Parliament is set to launch a public inquiry into the Government's widely-panned changes to the states's festival licences.

Labor’s Shadow Minister for Music, John Graham, has today referred the regulations to the Legislative Council’s Regulation Committee for formal investigation. 

If the notice is agreed to, the referral will be discussed by the Committee and allow them to conduct a public inquiry into the regulations to report to Parliament by 6 August. 

“These regulations have caused concern right across Australia’s music industry. Major touring groups have raised the prospect that damaging the NSW festival industry could see high profile artists avoid Australia altogether,” Graham said.

“That is bad news for music fans in Melbourne or Brisbane.

“This inquiry presents the chance to make sure that the government is finally engaging with the concerns that the industry is raising.”

The license has been publicly contested since it was initially announced and coming into effect on 1 March, which also prompted thousands of Sydneysiders to protest at a rally attended by names like Michael Chugg, Dave Faulkner and The Presets’ Julian Hamilton.

Last month, Northern Beaches Music Festival was forced to cancel its 2019 event citing "the new licensing laws" as the reason behind the cancellation.