Inquiry Backs Call To Scrap New NSW Festival Licence Regulations

An inquiry into NSW’s recent and controversial festival license changes has backed calls to scrap the regulations. 

A report issued this week has called for the music festival regulations to be disallowed by parliament, "given the impact they have had on the national music scene".

"I welcome this report and its findings. Labor supports the recommendations," Labor’s Shadow Minister for Music, John Graham said 

“I call on the Government to immediately establish a regulatory roundtable to work hand in hand with the industry.

“These festivals will be safer if government and the industry work together. That hasn’t happened.

“We don’t support the hastily developed music festival licence. It has done tremendous damage to music sector, here and around the country.

“Importantly, we need a new regime in place for the upcoming summer festival season. The government should meet with the industry to immediately get this in place."

The report comes after the inquiry heard that no government minister engaged with the industry about the regulations, while news of the changes were received late on a Friday night just one week before they were announced. 

Festivals included on the NSW Government's 'high risk' festivals list were also notified by text message or not at all.

It is recommended that the NSW Government immediately establish a regulatory roundtable with participants including members from Liquor & Gaming NSW, NSW Health, NSW Police Force, industry representatives including the Australian Festivals Association and the Live Music Office and health-related groups such as Harm Reduction Australia.

In a joint statement, the Australian Festival Association, Live Performance Australia, Music NSW, APRA AMCOS, the Live Music Office and the Association of Artist Managers welcomed the recommendation. 

“The industry’s aim has always been to work with government to develop a more workable regulatory approach to improving safety at festivals," the statement reads.

“The safety and enjoyment of festival goers is our top priority and we are now keen to engage in a collaborative and constructive partnership with Government agencies to develop and implement a regulatory regime which achieves this.”