Festival owners face jail time and big fines if they breach new guidelines
Music festival organisers who breach new guidelines aimed at reducing drug overdoses could face jail time and hefty fines. The Daily Telegraph can reveal a government crackdown means festival operators who skimp on medical staff, chill-out-zones and water stations will be held personally responsible.
Music festival organisers who breach new guidelines aimed at reducing drug overdoses could be jailed for a year and fined up to $110,000.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal a government crackdown means festival operators who skimp on medical staff, chill-out-zones and water stations will be held personally responsible.
The changes are in response to the recent spate of drug overdoses at festivals and five deaths this summer, including most recently Central Coast teenager Alex Ross-King.
A spokeswoman for Racing Minister Paul Toole, who is responsible for liquor and gaming licensing, said the state’s tough alcohol licensing regulations would now be mirrored in the NSW Health and police guidelines that festival owners must agree to before being granted a licence.
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The changes mean that organisers who fail to comply with NSW Health guidelines which determine how many paramedics are on the ground will be breaching the NSW Liquor Act.
Police also have the powers to criminally charge owners if they break the policing promises they made before hosting the event.
“As the new licence will fall under the NSW Liquor Act, festival organisers who fail to meet the new requirements will face the same tough penalties that currently apply for breaches of liquor licences,” she said.
“Festival organisers who do the wrong thing and breach conditions will also face being banned from running future events.
“Examples of breaches under the new music festival licence include failing to provide the specified number of water stations or medical support staff, or permitting alcohol to be served to minors.”
Organisers with a chequered history who are banned will not be able to simply start a new company for a fresh start. They will be personally black-listed and booted out of the industry for good.
Individuals working at the festivals will also be subject to $44,000 fines if they personally breach guidelines their bosses agree to.
The moves come after The Daily Telegraph revealed festivals with a history of drug fatalities and drug possession charges would be placed in “extreme risk” categories.
Organisers then need to make significant promises to NSW Health, NSW Police and the Department of Liquor and gaming before their festival license is granted.
Those promises detail significant mitigating measures to prevent drug overdoses.
The maximum penalties for breaches are jail terms of 12 months and fines of $44,000 for individuals and $110,000 for corporations.
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