I speak in support of the Music Festivals Amendment Bill 2024. My two children have spoken to me at length about the vast difference in the music festival scene in New South Wales compared with other States and other countries. My son recently returned from the United Kingdom and was blown away by the music festival culture there. The UK is the home of mega festivals like Glastonbury, the Leeds Festival and the Reading Festival, and they attract hundreds of thousands of people. We have many talented artists in New South Wales and Australia who need festivals and a regulatory environment that promotes their work.
I recently spoke to Ben Tillman, owner and director of Yours and Owls Festival, a music festival and venue booking company; Farmer and the Owl record label; and FO PAS Publishing Company. Yours and Owls cultivates emerging artists in Wollongong and from across New South Wales, both through its headline Yours and Owls Festival as well as various gigs it organises at venues across the State. Ben spoke to me about the difficulties he faced with the previous Government's Music Festivals Act. The Act meant that festival organisers had to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for police presence on top of significant insurance fees, making festivals nearly untenable in this State.
The former Liberal-Nationals Government destroyed the music scene in New South Wales under the guise of protecting festivalgoers. The Minns Labor Government is yet again cleaning up the mess of the former Government, taking an evidence-based approach to reigniting music festivals in New South Wales. In 2024, Liquor and Gaming NSW undertook a statutory review of the Act to assess its relevance and effectiveness. The review confirmed that the policy objectives remain valid and that safety standards have improved. However, it also highlighted areas of duplication and the need to focus more sharply on health-related issues in festival management.
The bill addresses these findings by making key reforms, starting with the introduction of a health and medical plan, which replaces the previous requirement for a safety management plan. The health and medical plan will allow festival organisers to concentrate on implementing health-focused strategies to mitigate risks and respond to medical emergencies. Crucially, the health and medical plans must align with the guidelines published by NSW Health, which will ensure that festival organisers are prioritising the wellbeing of attendees by adhering to expert advice on medical protocols and emergency response measures.
Under those reforms, all festivals will be required to prepare a health and medical plan. However, only festivals with higher risk profiles will need to formally consult NSW Health and have their plans agreed upon. That distinction ensures that health standards remain a priority without imposing unnecessary regulatory burdens on lower risk events. Importantly, although the focus has shifted to health, the NSW Police Force will still have an active role in ensuring public safety. If necessary, they will be able to propose conditions but only for festivals required to consult NSW Health. Festival organisers will have the right to review and provide feedback on any proposed conditions before they are imposed, which will maintain a fair and transparent process.
The bill also addresses a significant concern raised by stakeholders: the "subject festival" designation. Under the current system, festivals deemed "subject" by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority faced a higher regulatory burden. The label has unfairly stigmatised certain festivals, damaging their reputations, reducing ticket sales, and affecting sponsorship and investment opportunities. By removing the "subject festival" designation, we lift that undue burden and acknowledge the considerable safety improvements made since the introduction of the Act. Additionally, the removal of the label will help avoid the inflated insurance premiums that have often been imposed on festivals simply because they were automatically deemed higher risk. The change will introduce a more balanced and modern approach to determining which festivals require enhanced health and safety measures. By removing the outdated label, we create a more fair and practical framework for festival organisers.
Just today I was talking to year 10 students from Engadine High School who want events to go to. Let's get the show on the road. The Government is committed to ensuring that health and safety standards at music festivals meet the high expectations of festivalgoers, their families and the broader community. The bill strengthens that commitment by refining the regulatory framework to better support festival organisers while continuing to safeguard attendees. No parent should have to fear for their child's safety while enjoying live music. The reforms ensure that music festivals across New South Wales will not only be safe but also provide the necessary infrastructure to respond effectively to any medical emergency. Festivalgoers will have the confidence that they are in a secure environment where their wellbeing is the highest priority. With these changes, we are fostering a culture of responsibility and collaboration between government agencies and festival organisers. It is a critical step towards ensuring that our thriving music festival scene continues to flourish in a safe and responsible manner. I commend the bill to the House.
