The State of Victoria has caught up with the rest of Australia and changed the licensing law to allow All-Ages live music events.
The Victorian Minister for Liqour and Gaming Regulation, Edward O’Donohue, announcement at The Age Music Victoria Awards in Melbourne on Wednesday night that the Government will amend the Liquor Control Act in early 2014 to introduce alcohol-free all age events in licenced premises with interim measurements put in place immediately.
The amended rules will fast-track approval of low-risk underage events , change conditions for underage events to reduce the cost to venues holding the events and create a new category for alcohol-free your events for patrons aged from 12-25 years.
“This is a massive outcome for the live music industry that will benefit artists, venues, promoters and young music fans who are the future of our industry,” said Music Victoria CEO Patrick Donovan.
Richard Moffat, who represents venues and music festivals said, “I can’t begin to express how happy I am to know Melbourne venues will once again be hosting delicensed all-aged shows.For many years Melbourne has had these troubling restricting laws that have effectively ‘ghettoised’ entertainment for teenagers.”
The change in law came after years of lobbying from Music Victoria. with stakeholders and the community including the Victorian Government, Victoria Police, local government, licensees and the music industry.
“We hope it is the first of many outcomes to come out of the Live Music Roundtable,” Donovan said.
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