By Alexandra Smith and Angus Thompson
Australian music icons warn the Berejiklian government has "declared war" on live music and culture, with excessive regulation and "exorbitant bills" for extra policing.
Some of the biggest names in Australian music, including Bernard Fanning, Vance Joy and promoter Michael Chugg, have signed an open letter, declaring the government is"killing live music in NSW".
Bernard Fanning has signed the open letter that declares the government is "killing live music in NSW".Credit: Katherine O'Malley
Almost 70,000 people have also signed a petition, calling on the government to stop "its attack on live music".
The letter and petition come in the wake of fears that the award-winning Byron Bay Bluesfest could leave NSW because of new regulations for festivals.
The festival's director Peter Noble warned earlier this week that if the guidelines for festivals go ahead, Bluesfest would have no choice but to move interstate.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian insists Bluesfest is not the target of the new interim guidelines, created in response to a series of drug-related deaths at music festivals.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian insists Bluesfest is not the target of the new interim guidelines.Credit: Anna Kucera
Late on Wednesday, the state government released a statement to festival organisers admitting there was confusion with the new guidelines.
"We will continue to consult with industry and are available to meet one-on-one with music festival organisers for detailed discussions, to ensure we get the balance right between great entertainment and festival safety," the statement read.
Labor will on Friday announce its music policy, which will include $35 million over four years to establish a plan for contemporary music. NSW is the only mainland state without one.
The opposition spokesman for music and the night time economy, John Graham, said Labor does not "accept the government’s war on music".
"Labor is committing record funding to keep venues open and musicians in work," Mr Graham said.
As part of its plan, Labor will establish a new Music Industry Office to grow the state's music industry as well as new programs to help artists record and tour.
The open letter, backed by a coalition of Australia's biggest festivals, as well as Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and ticketing stalwart Moshtix, says "knee-jerk" regulations are crippling the industry and forcing events to move interstate.
"Overbearing regulation, exorbitant police bills, a lack of respect for NSW businesses, and very little recognition of the significant positive impacts of music on our communities is forcing music out of NSW," the letter says.
Singer Daryl Braithwaite told the Herald that NSW, which he said prided itself on "having the best of many things", was at risk of becoming a "nanny state".
Daryl Braithwaite said NSW was at risk of becoming a "nanny state".Credit: Shotz By Jackson
"NSW wouldn’t like to be the only state in Australia that doesn’t have festivals," he said.
"To shut them down … or make it so tight they won’t be able to run them, which will be crippling for the people of NSW."
Michael Chugg, of Chugg Entertainment, said the state would be robbing itself of up $100 million a year.
A 'Don't Kill Live Music' rally is set to be held in Hyde Park from 6pm on February 21.
Meanwhile, the NSW Police Commissioner is challenging a judge's declaration that a music festival which police refused to support was in fact "safe".
NSW Police late last year withdrew its support for the Bohemian Beatfreaks festival in the state's Northern Rivers, citing several site safety risks as well as fears over drug taking.
During a Land and Environment Court hearing in November, acting Superintendent Toby Lindsay said NSW Police policies regarding music festivals had changed in light of the deaths of two young revellers at the Defqon.1 event in Penrith in September.
But in deciding in favour of festival organisers Rabbits Eat Lettuce, Justice Tim Moore said the safety fears had been met by the hefty increase in user-pay police, as well as harm minimisation measures deemed appropriate by the superintendent himself.
With Laura Chung