| Last Wednesday, the Northern Beaches Music Festival was forced to make the tough decision to cancel the 9th 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 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. |
| Statement issued by: Australian Festival Association |