Entertainment laws back in Parliament

The NSW Legislative Council resumes today at 2:30pm, with the amendments to NSW Planning laws and the long overdue reform to NSW entertainment (PoPE) laws on the agenda.

Speeches are expected from the Christian Democrats, the Shooters Party, Greens, and Coalition.

The Bill is a challenging one. Raise the Bar, however, are a single issue campaign. We stand for diversity, and prosperity in the cultural landscape in NSW, and jobs and opportunity in the hospitality and cultural sector, particularly where they find common ground.

Whilst the passing of the Liquor Act without amendment was a cause for genuine celebration, we knew that without the associated planning reforms, NSW would not have the diversity of live entertainment that would enable jobs for artists and new licenses to fulfil their potential.

We returned to advocating for reform.

In the days ahead, if entertainment law reform is passed by the NSW Parliament, only THEN, we will be able to finally know that the job has been done, and in fairness, acknowledge that after what has been a major challenge in reforming both NSW liquor and planning laws, that the Iemma team have seriously delivered for the cultural future of NSW.