New Push To Allow Live Music At Venues Without Govt Approval After Harold Park Incident

A Labor MP is pushing for the party to adopt a new policy which would allow bars and venues that provide live music to do so without government approval.

According to Fairfax, former ALP official and co-founder of the Labor Loves Live Music group, John Graham, is proposing the policy in the wake of the controversial incident which occurred at Harold Park Hotel in Sydney.

The stalwart Forest Lodge pub was forced to axe live music from its courtyard after a single complaint, thought it was later found that the venue did not have the license necessary to host live music outdoors.

"We need to save Sydney's music scene before it's too late,” Graham said.

"Venues should be able to have someone play an acoustic guitar without requiring a permission note from the council."

The proposal would reportedly allow venues to provide acoustic music and other forms of "low impact" entertainment.

The City Of Sydney did not immediately respond when contacted for comment by The Music.

UPDATE - (5.25pm)

A spokesperson for Lord Mayor Clover Moore has responded to the proposed policy by John Graham. 

"We want to encourage other venues with live entertainment-related conditions they think are outdated or unnecessary to contact the City to discuss what changes can be made and what support we can offer. The City cannot make changes to development consent conditions unless a venue asks us to.

"We are preparing a package of significant reforms to our planning, regulatory and compliance processes to support the live music and performance industry, along with other night-time economy businesses and organisations that want to use venues for low-impact cultural activities.

"Elements of this work have already been subject to public consultation, and the final package of reforms will be presented to Council for endorsement later this year.

"We look forward to working with the industry and our local community to implement the changes in a way that balances support for live music and performance with the needs of the community."