Live music groups celebrate "historic" agreement with Victorian Government

06 October 2010

After eight months of intense negotiations, the Victorian State government and various live music associations have reached an agreement removing the legal link between live music and violence.

In a statement today, live music advocacy groups Save Live Australia's Music (S.L.A.M), Fair Go 4 Live Music and Music Victoria celebrated the decision, touting it as “an historic day”.

“The Government has acted to remove the link between live music performance at licensed premises and crowd controller licence conditions,” reads the the agreement, signed today by Patrick Donovan (Music Victoria), Quincy McLean (SLAM), Jon Perring (FG4LM), Tony Robinson Minister for Consumer Affairs & Mark Brennan Director of Liquor Licensing.

In February, 20,000 music fans marched on Melbourne’s Parliament House campaigning for change after iconic live venue, the Tote hotel in Collingwood, was forced to close because it couldn’t afford the government’s ‘high risk’ licencing charges. It has now re-opened.

Patrick Donovan, CEO of Music Victoria, stated: “This decision recognises the wonderful contribution from Victoria’s passionate and thriving music community and cements our reputation as one of the live music capitals of the world. We thank those who made it happen and look forward to seeing the industry flourish in this new nurturing environment.”