NSW New Sound NSW Advisory Board; Mediation Required Before Suing Over Live Music Venue Disputes; Music Genre Cannot Be the Only Reason to Refuse an Event

Contemporary Music Bill 2026

13 Oct 2026: This bill has passed its first house and is now before the second house for its own debate.

Legislative Council

Legislative Assembly

Assent

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Topics

conflict of interest court procedures dispute resolution entertainment industry environmental protection liquor licensing live music live music venues music industry noise pollution professional licensing venue accreditation +7 more

Introduced by: The Hon Jenny Aitchison MP (ALP); The Hon John Graham MLC (ALP)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

The Arts Minister establishes the Sound NSW Advisory Board to provide advice on the contemporary music industry, with a composition including artists, regional advocates, artist managers, non-profit music organisation experts, a member of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, and at least one Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person.
The Arts Minister must review the composition of the Sound NSW Advisory Board after three years to ensure it still properly represents the music industry and report the findings to Parliament.
Sound NSW Advisory Board members must disclose financial conflicts of interest and are barred from related decisions; both Board members and mediators are protected from personal legal liability for actions taken in good faith.
The Arts Minister appoints a registrar of disputes to manage mediation for live music venue conflicts. Parties to such disputes must attempt mediation before starting court proceedings, unless the registrar or court determines it is unlikely to work, and statements made during mediation cannot be used as evidence in court.
The Night-time Economy Minister and heads of government sector agencies must follow specific principles when providing assistance to the contemporary music industry, and local councils, government agency heads, and the Arts Minister cannot refuse a live contemporary music event or activity solely because of the music genre.
The Secretary of the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport can create a voluntary, incentive-based accreditation scheme to develop world-class music venues and encourage the programming of original music, and may remove venues from the official list of live music and performance venues if they fail to meet eligibility requirements.
Venues in special entertainment precincts can only have extended trading hours if the precinct's management plan allows it. To qualify, metropolitan venues must hold at least 10 relevant events a month, and regional venues must hold at least 104 a year.
People conducting noise tests for outdoor entertainment activities must use standard testing methods set by the government and the Environment Protection Authority, replacing previous noise testing conditions attached to development consents.
The definition of a 'performer' is expanded to include DJs, music producers, and songwriters. Performer representatives are now split into Class 1 managers (broad career management) and Class 2 booking agents (specific engagements), with updated fee structures.
The Sound NSW Advisory Board Act 2025 is repealed.

The Debate

What different members said when this bill was debated:

David Harris ALP

“The bill is the next phase of the Government’s strategy to bring music back to New South Wales. When this Government took office in March 2023, it had a deep appreciation of what had been lost in New South Wales.”

Official source →

News articles and press releases

Contemporary Music Bill 2026

Mr DAVID HARRIS, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty — 2026-09-16

The purpose of the Contemporary Music Bill 2026 is to establish a legislative framework to support, regulate and promote the contemporary music industry in New South Wales. The bill consolidates policy, regulatory and administrative settings that currently operate across multiple Acts and agencies and provides a structured approach for future decision-making affecting the music sector in the State. The bill contains four primary components: one, establishing a Contemporary Music Act and music regulation; two, amending the Entertainment Industry Act 2013 and its regulation; three, amending the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 and associated regulation; and four, amending the Liquor Act 2007.