Mandatory Pill Testing and Safety Rules for Music Festivals with Over 5000 People
Music Festivals Amendment Bill 2024
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Introduced by: The Hon John Graham MLC (ALP); The Hon David Harris MP (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
John Graham ALP
“I am pleased to speak in support of the Music Festivals Amendment Bill 2024. The bill seeks to amend both the Music Festivals Act 2019 and the Liquor Act 2007 and make any necessary consequential amendments to achieve some changes to the regulatory framework. The bill is another part of the Government’s commitment to support vibrancy, music and culture in New South Wales.”
Damien Tudehope LIB
“I lead for the Opposition in debate on the Music Festivals Amendment Bill 2024. The Opposition supports the bill. I welcome the acknowledgement by the Minister about the cooperation of the Opposition on the bill. The details were substantially dealt with by the shadow Minister in the other place, so I will not canvass them here.”
Rod Roberts IND
“I make a contribution the debate on the Music Festivals Amendment Bill 2024. I say from the outset that I am supportive of the bill. My support for music festivals was clearly displayed back in 2019. I thank the Hon. John Graham for his acknowledgement of the small role that I played that evening. I think it is very important that we have a vibrant music festival community that is fun and safe.”
Jacqui Munro LIB
“Fyre Festival was a luxury music festival, marketed to lure the rich and the famous, the social media influencers and those who simply wanted a totally unique festival experience on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma. Organised by an American businessman known for less‑than‑scrupulous dealings, it brought together global media to cover the glitz and the glamour of announcements.”
John Ruddick LIBT
“The Libertarian Party supports the Music Festivals Amendment Bill 2024, but with reluctance because it does not see why any level of government should have anything to do with festivals other than getting out of the way and wishing them well. The Libertarian Party believes there should be a separation between the State and festivals. We believe true festivals are spontaneous.”
News articles and press releases
Music Festivals Amendment Bill 2024
Mr DAVID HARRIS, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty — 2024-09-18
The bill achieves this in several ways: first, by amending section 6 of the Act to reframe the safety management plan to a health and medical plan. The bill removes the contents of the safety management plan in the Act and provides that the health and medical plan for a festival must be prepared in accordance with guidelines set out by NSW Health. The current decision-maker under the Act, the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority, will be replaced with the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport, with the support of NSW Health and New South Wales police. As a result of the bill, the function within the department that will make decisions pertaining to music festivals will be performed by the deputy secretary of the hospitality and racing group.