Good Things Festival Says "Exorbitant" Police Fees Mean Under-18s Can't Attend Sydney Date

UPDATE: NSW Police Issue Statement Following Good Things Festival Accusations

ORIGINAL STORY: Australia’s new punk, rock and metal event, Good Things Festival, has announced that ticket-holders under the age of 18 will no longer be able to attend its debut Sydney event in December, due to what organisers say are “multiple impediments” put in place by NSW Police, including “exorbitant” policing fees.

In a statement, Good Things organisers claim NSW Police has imposed “excessive police presence and exorbitant fees”, thereby “making it impossible for us to allow anyone under 18 to attend the event”.

The police measures aren’t against the law, but Good Things organisers say they have exhausted “all options” in their discussions with police, including negotiations with the festival’s lawyers.

“Sadly, the NSW Police are enforcing significant costs for over policing the event which is not only wasting police resources, but it also has a significant impact on the experience for all of the festival patrons and making it impossible for the event organisers to allow under 18s to attend,” reads a statement from festival organisers.

Good Things Festival declined to clarify how much NSW Police had proposed to charge for its services.

Good Things promoter and General Manager Chris O’Brien said, “We have been working around the clock for months to try and ensure the event goes ahead as planned, but we have seen unprecedented opposition to the event from the police and the Government.

“The experience for all customers was going to be impacted. We have had to make the very difficult decision to turn the event to over 18s only to avoid under 18s [being] forced to watch bands behind a 1.8 metre high chain wire fence.”

Good Things Festival’s claims against NSW Police come after the force was recently accused of over-charging the state’s Bohemian Beatfreaks festival almost $200,000 for its services at this year’s event — around 20 times the amount the festival was charged last year.

Sydney club event Neo Tokyo also cancelled one of its major events yesterday, due to what organisers said was “severely over the top policing”.

The NSW Government has also threatened to shut down music festivals in recent months, following the deaths of two people at Sydney’s Defqon.1 festival in September.

In their statement, Good Things organisers said:

“Sadly, we’re not the only festival to be hit with this as representatives of the NSW State Government have threatened to shut down music festivals they believe don’t meet their standards.

“Good Things Festival believes that live music and festivals are for everyone but unfortunately the NSW State Government does not share the same view.”

Music Feeds has contacted NSW Police and the NSW Government for comment.

Good Things organisers say all Sydney ticket-holders under the age of 18 will be contacted and given refunds. The Melbourne and Brisbane dates of the festival aren’t affected by the new 18+ measures.

Check out the full Good Things Festival lineup, below.

Good Things Festival 2018 Lineup

Stuck Out (Melbourne only)
Redhook (Sydney only)
Stateside (Brisbane only)

Joining…

The Offspring (Performing Smash In Full)
Stone Sour
All Time Low
Dropkick Murphys
Bullet For My Valentine
The Used
BABYMETAL
The Smith Street Band
Dashboard Confessional (Performing songs from The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most + Fan Favourites)
Mayday Parade
La Dispute
Northlane
The Wonder Years
Waterparks
Tonight Alive
Scarlxrd
Emmure
Palaye Royale
Make Them Suffer
Waax
Boston Manor
Void Of Vision
Ecca Vandal