Premier Gladys Berejiklian considering ‘all options’ to reinstate music festival regulations
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has fired a salvo at Labor, the Shooters and Greens for overturning strict music festival regulations which has forced the government has to rely on the goodwill of operators to make their events safe.
NSW
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Premier Gladys Berejiklian has fired a salvo at Labor, the Shooters and Greens for overturning strict music festival regulations which has forced the government has to rely on the goodwill of operators to make their events safe.
The Saturday Telegraph can reveal organisers of today’s (Saturday) Listen Out festival at Centennial Park have agreed to abide by the regulations even after they were thrown out in the upper house on the eve of the summer festival season.
The regulatory scheme – requiring organisers of “high risk” festivals to meet strict licencing conditions – was introduced in March this year after a series of drug-related deaths over summer.
But it was repealed in the Legislative Council last week after Labor successfully moved a “disallowance” motion, which passed 21-18.
Ms Berejiklian last night said she was considering “all options” to have the regulations reinstated after blasting the cross-party group for “grossly irresponsible” behaviour.
“They have removed these regulations on high-risk festivals and left nothing in their place,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“These regulations were put in place for a reason – to save lives.”
“I call on Labor, the Greens and the Shooters to do the right thing – put aside politics and work with the NSW Government to save lives.”
Under the regulations, events categorised as being “high risk” would have to meet a checklist of health and safety requirements to receive a special liquor licence specific to music festivals.
Only 11 festivals were required to obtain the licence.
However, the scheme has been met with significant backlash from the industry with multiple festivals in NSW cancelling their events due to concerns about increased policing and health costs.
Ms Berejiklian commended Listen Out organisers for working with authorities to “act as though the regulations are still in place”.
NSW Police nabbed 159 people allegedly carrying drugs at the event last year – which was attended by 34,000 revellers – while medics took 12 festivalgoers to hospital, including seven with drug-related health problems.
Eastern Beaches PAC Commander Superintendent Rohan Cramsie yesterday said police would be “targeting the supply and possession of drugs and any other criminal activity”.