New South Wales' draconian festival licensing regulations have been overturned
The laws were introduced in February this year
New South Wales' licensing regulations have been dropped one month after being deemed "inadequate" by the New South Wales parliament.
After a A 108-page report slammed the local government policy in the Australian state during a parliamentary investigation, the regulations have been overturned by Labor and the Greens, "who voted together to disallow a government regulation governing the NSW festivals", The Australian reports, with those in favour counting 21 votes to 18.
The regulations were introduced in February this year as a response to drug-related deaths at outdoor events, and the reactive move called for a substantial boost to the number of police on-site at festivals. These security costs are covered by promoters, which lead to a number of cancellations.
It was also reported earlier this year that NSW government would be reviewing the Sydney lockout laws, which were first introduced in 2014 as an alleged response to two deaths near Sydney's Kings Cross centre, and imposed a 1:30AM last entry policy, and 3AM last drink restriction. In September, it was announced new legislation that will be passed in the coming months will likely result in the scrapping of the last entry times and the alcohol curfew.
In March this year, Australian music journalist Andrew Wowk shared the story behind the New South Wales government’s introduction of the festival licensing regulations, and explained why NSW music venues are currently in the firing line like never before.
