Let the music play!
The Pope laws have been completely scrapped as part of a further overhaul of the live music regulatory system in NSW.
In what must be the sweetest music to the ears of musicians, artists and venue owners for many years the NSW Government announced the final nail in the coffin of the Place of Public Entertainment (PoPE) laws in NSW which have been stifling local talent for years.
You will recall Raise The Bar campaigned to cut the red tape on these laws a wee while back. That resulted in significant improvements and many more venues opening their rooms, however the arcane laws still had too many related planning complexities which were causing venues like the Hopetoun to close their doors or give up the live music battle.
No longer! The PoPE is officially dead as of monday and the music can start playing through the streets of NSW. On FridayState Planning Minister Kristina Keneally announced the end of Place Of Public Entertainment (POPE) licences, saying their abolition would give a boost to the state's arts scene. Meeting the conditions of the POPE licence was reportedly costing some businesses up to $300,000. That sort of outlay was beyond most small to medium-sized enterprises, according to industry experts, meaning few were able to host live performances.
"The abolition of the POPE licences mean local eateries and watering
holes no longer need development approval if they want to host live
bands or musicians," Ms Keneally told reporters on Friday.
Clubs NSW welcomed the move.