40 submissions were made ahead of a parliamentary inquiry into the recent changes made to New South Wales' festival license regulations and of that number, only the NSW Government said it is in favour of the changes.
Groups including ARIA, Chugg Entertainment, Secret Sounds Group, Australian Festivals Association, Unified Music Group, Fuzzy, Harm Reduction Australia, FBi Radio and Select Music all issued submissions opposing the regulations, as well as the City Of Sydney.
“Out of almost 40 publicly available submissions to the inquiry into the NSW Government’s new rules for music festivals, the NSW Government was the only organisation to back their rushed regulations," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
“Community groups and industry bodies, from the Australian Festivals Association and Music Australia, to Regional Arts NSW and the Illawarra Folk Club, are calling for the rules to be removed and for the industry to be properly consulted. They warn that festivals are already shutting down, with disastrous consequences for our cultural life and economy.
“Many submissions – including the City of Sydney’s – also called for a compassionate and evidence-based approach to drugs, through pill testing or other harm minimisation measures.”
The inquiry is expected to take place on 13 August.
Meanwhile, another inquiry into Sydney's night-time economy is expected to hold hearings on 5 and 9 August where, out of the 49 submissions currently available online, 42 support the repealing or relaxing of the city's lockout laws.
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