NSW Festival Cancellation Sparks Renewed Calls For Regulation Removal

The Australian Festival Association has renewed its calls for the removal of new festival regulations following the cancellation of another NSW-based festival. 

Northern Beaches Music Festival was forced to cancel last week, issuing a statement citing "the new licensing laws" as the reason behind the event's cancellation.

In its ninth year, the community-based, not-for-profit music festival run by Paul Robertson, was "hit with vastly different license conditions compared with those previously applied at the same site, using the same production model". 

According to the AFA, "this in turn meant the loss of a major beverage sponsorship. This loss of vital funding coupled with the limited time to find a replacement source of funding forced the decision to cancel."

As a result, the AFA has issued a statement today stating, "We continue to call for the new regulations to be removed now that the business of gaining votes is behind us. The industry is strongly committed to safety at our events and is still willing to work with Government on implementing sensible and effective, evidence-based measures developed through a proper consultation process.

"We want the government to provide certainty for the music festival industry and consider the far-reaching impacts that these significant changes will, are, and have already made on festival goers, musicians, festival organisers and communities that host them."

It comes as the government responding to intense pressure from the music industry, including the #DontKillLiveMusic rally in Sydney, reduced the new music festival regulations to a high-risk list of festivals. However as the AFA reports, "Festivals are still facing uncertainty and inconsistency from authorities trying to navigate the new landscape."

For a full rundown of everything that has happened in the last few months, follow the link here.

Read the full statement below. 

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Last Wednesday, the Northern Beaches Music Festival was forced to make the tough decision to cancel the 9^th year of their community-based, not-for-profit music festival. Organiser Paul Robertson, who has now signed up as our newest AFA member, was hit with vastly different license conditions compared with those previously applied at the same site, using the same production model. This in turn meant the loss of a major beverage sponsorship. This loss of vital funding coupled with the limited time to find a replacement source of funding forced the decision to cancel.

Since the announcement, the AFA has made enquiries into the issues faced by Paul, to escalate those decisions being made at a local level. It is now understood that further consultation might lead to this great local event being able to get back on its feet.

After Government's attempt to placate a united industry by reducing the music festival licence to a higher-risk list of 14 festivals prior to the NSW State Election, festivals are still facing uncertainty and inconsistency from authorities trying to navigate the new landscape.

We continue to call for the new regulations to be removed now that the business of gaining votes is behind us. The industry is strongly committed to safety at our events and is still willing to work with Government on implementing sensible and effective, evidence-based measures developed through a proper consultation process.

We want the government to provide certainty for the music festival industry and consider the far-reaching impacts that these significant changes will, are, and have already made on festival goers, musicians, festival organisers and communities that host them.