Gladys Berejiklian needs to get over singing and dancing fears to help music industry on its knees

If it’s OK for the AFL, NRL and Hamilton premiere to go ahead, it makes no sense for Gladys Berejiklian to stop Bluesfest, argues Kathy McCabe.

OPINION: Footloose NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian needs to get over her fear of singing and dancing in the age of COVID.

The kneejerk cancellation of the Byron Bay Bluesfest the day before the five-day Easter festival, in reaction to one case of community transmission, without weighing options or economic and mental health impacts, will have significant and enduring ramifications for an industry still on its knees 12 months after the pandemic shutdowns.

The health order confirmed the ongoing and highly visible bias against mass gatherings of people for live entertainment as opposed to sporting events, coming less than a week after we all saw tens of thousands of people attend rugby league and AFL matches.

Taika Waititi, Chris Hemsworth, Elsa Pataky, Isla Fisher and Russell Crowe watch the round three NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters at Stadium Australia on March 26, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Getty

There were Chris Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum and Taika Waititi among the thousands of Rabbitohs and Roosters fans at Sydney Olympic Park standing and cheering at the game.

No social distancing, no masks, no sitting down.

The following night, the Premier attended the opening night of Hamilton at the Lyric Theatre where the COVIDSafe protocols were strict and willingly embraced by the attendees.

She would have seen first-hand just how seriously the entertainment community takes the measures needed to get the industry back on its feet after a year without music, theatre and dance. A year without a pay cheque.

A "Festival Closed" digital sign outside the entrance to Bluesfest in Byron Bay, Australia. Picture: Getty

The Premier would also be aware that after that show, there was not one COVID case.

Nor were there any cases after the recent and triumphant Makarrata Live concerts by Midnight Oil – two warm-up gigs at the boutique Oxford Art Factory and another at the Enmore Theatre and then the outdoor concert at Hope Estate in the Hunter Valley.

We were very naughty at those shows and stood up in our seats, danced and sang along to the encore songs The Dead Heart and Beds Are Burning. Not. One. Case.

Jimmy Barnes posted this tweet after the Bluesfest Byron Bay cancellation was announced on Wednesday.

Yet when shutting down Bluesfest, the Premier said the festival was different to other mass gathering events such as sports matches or the Royal Easter Show because “people are together with dancing and singing and music”.

A German study of a test event conducted last year to examine the potential transmission of the virus found indoor concerts have a “low” impact on infection rates, providing they are well ventilated and follow hygiene protocols.

Bluesfest is an outdoor event and had every conceivable COVIDSafe protocol in place.

Of course the health and safety of everyone remains the highest priority in this pandemic era.

But state governments must respond to outbreaks with a consistent approach rather than the Footloose double standard which currently exists.