3 days Ago By Linda Morris
The NSW government is set to dump a controversial provision blamed for driving up ticket prices at music festivals, while also introducing measures to make it easier for organisers to stage all-age music events. The new laws will be introduced to parliament as soon as this week. They would strip the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) of its key role in regulating festival safety and limit the influence of police.
Splendour in the Grass was cancelled in a tough year for Australian music festivals. Credit: Stephen Booth But it’s unclear if the state government plans to overhaul controversial user-pay policing charges paid by festival organisers. Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham will announce the long-awaited amendments to the Music Festivals Act 2019 following a review that found NSW festivals were the most regulated in Australia.
The amendments, approved by state cabinet, aim to shift the focus of festival legislation from security to the health and safety of patrons. Under legislative changes introduced in 2019, ILGA takes recommendations from police and NSW Health to decide whether a music festival is “subject” or high risk, meaning organisers must meet higher medical and harm reduction standards and submit a safety plan. The Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, John Graham.
Credit: Dion Georgopoulos The proposed revamp would replace the costly high-risk classification with a festival-wide stipulation that all organisers prepare a health plan. Only select events will be required to have the formal agreement of NSW Health. Police will have no role in enforcing the health management plans.
.
