Australian Festival Association Calls For 'Reform Of The Regulatory System' After Esoteric Festival Cancellation

The Australian Festival Association (AFA) has released a statement following the last-minute cancellation of this year’s Esoteric Music Festival. The statement calls for reform of the “regulatory system” of festivals and events in Victoria.

Cancelled yesterday, the event was due to start today, but many were on-site yesterday to prepare for the multi-day festival. Esoteric was cancelled after the Council's Municipal Building Surveyor denied their application for a Place of Public Entertainment (POPE-OP) permit, which events need approved hours before they go ahead.

The AFA is “deeply concerned” about the matter and notes that the performers, artist crews, organisers, ticketholders, suppliers, and local businesses were “blindsided” by the sudden decision.

Esoteric Festival, a psychedelic meets EDM event, is a significant provider to local tourism. Since 2017, it has contributed over $15 million a year to the local economy of the regional town of Donald.

AFA Managing Director Olly Arkins said, “Esoteric’s cancellation the day before gates were to open shows the need for reform of the regulatory system for festivals and events in Victoria.”

Adding that Victoria’s Place of Public Entertainment (POPE-OP) permit is the “most onerous and convoluted” in the country, Arkins continued, “No major event should get to the finish line, after months of stakeholder consultation, employing staff and local businesses, and setting up all the infrastructure, only to have a permit refused at the last moment.

“This decision does major reputational damage to Victoria’s live music and festival sector as a whole.

“The long overdue review of the Place of Public Entertainment permit system kicked off just this week, couldn’t have come at a better time. The system needs urgent reform.”

The Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) is currently reviewing the POPE permit, which the AFA strongly advocated for.

The AFA seeks a future where event organisers in Victoria have a “clear, efficient, and fair regulatory framework.”

With the review of the POPE-OP permit underway, the Department is looking to reduce “ambiguity, streamline approvals, and improve consistency,” all of which the AFA says are “essential” to prevent last-minute permit issues that lead to festival and event cancellations.

“A thriving festival industry needs clear, fair, and transparent regulations,” the AFA said, urging the Allan Government to address systemic issues that led to the cancellation of Esoteric Festival.

Esoteric Music Festival Managing Director Sam Goldsmith said of the cancellation, “To say we are disappointed is an understatement – we are gutted.”