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NSW Capacity Increases Could Soon Be Amended To Include Live Music Venues

Staff Writer

“These venues asked for help."

Last month's changes to public health orders, which confirmed venues can now operate at 50% capacity, did not specify that live music venues are included, however that could change in the coming weeks.

Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello and Liquor and Gaming NSW confirmed in a parliamentary inquiry on Wednesday that venue eligibility was dependent on the type of license a venue holds, however Health Minister Brad Hazzard has committed to Government discussion on including live venues and to looking into whether the measures can be amended.

Many small music venues across NSW have been unable to increase capacity under the health order due to their license classification as a small bar, pub or nightclub.

“These venues asked for help. It was a welcome intervention but because of the interaction with licensing the new measures totally missed the mark,” Shadow Minister for Music and the Night Time Economy, John Graham, said.

“Almost all of our most iconic Sydney music venues are being prevented from reopening or increasing capacity.”

When asked by Graham whether there was “any prospect of hope” for financial assistance for music venues, Dominello responded by deferring to the upcoming November Budget.

The news comes after the launch of the Save Our Stages NSW campaign which is calling for "immediate support" from the State Government to help devise a plan to ensure the "ongoing survival" of the industry throughout the state as Australia emerges from the COVID crisis.

Venues who have backed the campaign include Enmore Theatre, Factory Theatre, Oxford Art Factory and Crowbar.

Appearing in Parliament last month, Century Venues Chief Operating Officer Sam Nardo, who runs venues such as Enmore Theatre, Factory Theatre, Metro Theatre and Max Watt’s, stated that if something doesn’t change in the next six-nine months 85% of venues will go under.

“It is inevitable. There are many factors as to why that's the case,” Nardo said.

“We have a huge reliance on borders being open and acts being able to tour, but also the operating costs of the venue. Those two things together mean it's just not viable to operate and plan."