AFA Backs Victorian Coalition Pledge to Cut Festival Red Tape
The Australian Festival Association (AFA) has welcomed the Victorian Coalition's proposed reforms to event approvals and permits.
The Australian Festival Association (AFA) has welcomed the Victorian Coalition's election commitment to cut regulatory red tape for festivals and outdoor events, describing the proposed changes as a potential game changer for the sector.
Central to the commitment is the introduction of a 24-Hour Economy, Music and Events Advocate within government, tasked with driving reforms and acting as a single point of contact for music venues, promoters and festival organisers.
The Coalition has also pledged to streamline event approval processes by consolidating traffic, policing and liquor licensing requirements, alongside reforms to the state's Place of Public Entertainment (PoPE) permit system.
The latter has been a longstanding focus of the AFA's advocacy efforts.
According to the association, Victoria is the only Australian state maintaining a separate PoPE permit system for events and temporary entertainment, creating an additional layer of regulation that duplicates existing planning approvals.
The AFA argues the current framework increases costs and approval delays for festival organisers, with regional events particularly affected by limited council resources.
"Having a dedicated advocate inside government with a clear mandate to work closely with industry, drive reform and fast-track approvals processes for festivals would be a game changer for our sector," AFA CEO Lizzie Butterworth said.
Reporting from inside the Australian music business since '94.
The proposed changes would aim to reduce the administrative burden on organisers, allowing the sector to direct more resources towards delivering events rather than navigating overlapping regulatory requirements.
"This is about making it easier to put on festivals, reducing unnecessary barriers and allowing the industry to focus on what it does best: delivering incredible cultural experiences, supporting local economies and bringing communities together," Butterworth said.
The AFA also welcomed the Coalition's commitment to consult closely with the industry during the development and implementation of the proposed reforms, should it form government.
While backing the regulatory commitments, the association reiterated that it will continue advocating for dedicated festival grants from the next Victorian Government.
