Two major music festivals announce ‘no vax, no jive’ policy for 2022

The Outback Music Festival Group are announcing a ‘no jab, no jive’ policy for two of their music festivals next year.

For the 2022 iterations of the Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash and Birdsville Big Red Bash, the company will be requiring all ticket holders, staff, volunteers, contractors and vendors attending who are over the age of 16 to be vaccinated.

Each of the festivals span across a number of days in remote areas of Queensland and New South Wales.

This proposed policy marks a music industry first in Australia.

Outback Music Festival Group founder and managing director Greg Donovan told The Music Network that while that they of course respect the decision-making of those who decide not to get vaccinated, due to the nature and location of the festivals, it absolutely needs to be a requirement.

Donovan said, “Staging festivals in such remote locations, where patrons come from all over Australia and travel through small regional and outback communities, many of which have large indigenous populations, has led us to carefully review our position on vaccinations.”

“Whilst we respect the choice of individuals as to whether or not they decide to get vaccinated, due to the nature and location of our festivals we have decided to make vaccination a condition of attendance for everyone aged 16 and over – including patrons, staff, contractors, vendors and volunteers.

Donovan also added that while this will ensure the festival is as safe as possible, the vaccination requirement will also ensure that nearby remote communities are protected as well.

“This will offer all in attendance the best available protection against COVID-19,” Donovan added. “It will also ensure that remote communities are protected as much as possible from our patrons travelling through and visiting these towns and communities.”

Donovan is aware that their policy might not be everyone’s cup of tea, however he’s firm that they have made the “right decision”.

“Whilst this might impact some people’s decision to attend the festivals, we know we’ve made the right decision to keep everyone, including small regional and outback communities, as safe as possible.”

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This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.