NSW set to announce overhaul of the state's festivals act
Following increased discussion of police costs in the state's parliament.
The Sydney Morning Herald has overnight reported that the NSW Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, John Graham, will soon announce a series of amendments to the state's Music Festivals Act 2019, and a variety of grants available to festivals of certain size.
These amendments, reportedly approved by state cabinet, "aim to shift the focus of festival legislation from security to the health and safety of patrons," the SMH said.
These will include:
- The replacement of costly high-risk classifications of festivals.
- A sector wide need for 'health plans'.
- Formal agreements with NSW Health by "select events", which will not include Police enforcement of these plans, according to an uncited 'brief' the SMH appears to have attained.
- "Common sense" limitations on conditions governing all age events, which would allow children aged 16+ to attend events in the company of a responsible adult.
This plan will also include a $3 million two-year emergency package available for festivals over 15,000 people in size, seemingly available from the announcement date until June 30, 2026.
The news comes as just last week the Minister was quizzed in State Parliament over the police costs placed on Mode Festival, set to take place on Cockatoo Island in just a few weeks' time, as well as the departure of a House Of Mince event from a government owned venue due to its own projected police bill.
"NSW Police will retain the ability to recommend safety and law enforcement measures for festivals where they are deemed necessary," SMH said.
READ: Mode Festival forced to pay for NSW Police with arts grant funding
Mixmag ANZ will update this article as more details become available.
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Jack Colquhoun is Mixmag ANZ's Managing Editor, find him on Instagram.
