Music industry giants and small festival operators alike have lashed out at NSW’s controversial new music festival licensing laws, submissions to a state government committee reveal.
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The committee, which is investigating the impact of the legislation since it took effect in March, has published a number of submissions it received this month.
The Australian Festival Association (AFA) said the the new laws, which require operators to apply for a new music festival license under stringent safety and security guidelines “aren’t viable for implementation by organisers in their published state.”
The AFA also echoed earlier concerns over the the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority could make “subjective decisions” on which festivals should be granted licenses – without making operators privy to their selection criteria.
That position was backed by companies including Secret Sounds Group, which oversees Splendour In The Grass and Download festivals, along with Fuzzy Operations, who throw Listen Out and Field Day.
Chugg Entertainment, one of Australia’s largest touring companies, said the new license – which was enacted after a tragic string of overdoses at NSW music festivals – “does not address the initial drug-related health concerns which were the driving factor for change.”
The company echoed the AFA and Hard Reduction Australia, who called for the NSW Government to institute pill-testing trials at live music events. That’s despite the state government’s reticence to mirror successful trials held at Groovin The Moo in Canberra.
Touring festival giants are not the only groups who have spoken out. In its submission, the Illawarra Folk Club states the legislation has resulted in organisers “feeling very uncertain about our future ability to provide Folk Festivals to the Illawarra community.”
Meanwhile, the Australian Recording Industry Association – that’s ARIA, folks – said that “ongoing comprehensive consultation with representatives from the impacted sectors, with the good faith intention of reaching a solution that balances the competing interests, is a desired outcome for all involved.”
In its own submission, the City of Sydney stated “sweeping, swift changes to liquor regulation without community and industry consultation and without adequate evidence base have had damaging impacts on Sydney’s music industry and reputation.”
The cross-party inquiry is expected to report back on August 29. You can read a selection of public submissions here.
