Australia News: Strip Searches, Taylor Axes Melbourne Cup, Laneway, TEG & More

The Sydney-based Law Enforcement Conduct Commission is holding a public hearing Oct. 22 regarding the detention and strip-search of a 16-year old female by (New South Wales) NSW Police. 

The incident took place July 20 at the Splendour in the Grass festival in Byron Bay. The hearing will, over three days, look at whether officers involved “engaged in serious misconduct.” It will also discuss whether some applications of strip search laws “could be unlawful or unreasonable.”

Strip searches and sniffer dogs use are condemned by the music sector as dangerous, as panic-stricken punters sometimes get rid of their drugs by swallowing them immediately. 

During this winter’s inquest into the six fatal overdoses at Sydney festivals, and a parliamentary hearing on controversial new festival licensing laws, the sector complained about the force’s hostile attitude to patrons and inconsistency in policing.  

Criminology lecturer Peta Malins compared strip-searches to sexual assault, saying patrons “talk about how huge the effect can be emotionally, the anxiety, the fear, increased heart rate, sweaty palms, shaking and nervousness.”

Taylor Swift canceled her two-song Nov. 5 appearance at Nexus Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse. A statement Sept. 20 from Michael Gudinski’s Mushroom Events and the Victoria Racing Club attributed it to a scheduling issue. 

Gudinski said, “Changes to her Asian promo schedule have made it logistically impossible for her to be here. To all of Taylor’s fans, we hope to see Taylor in Australia in 2020.”

The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses called it a triumph, responding, “Taylor sees everything online and made the right decision to back out.” 

It previously called on Swift to “make a strong statement that animal abuse is unacceptable” and she “put money before compassion by agreeing to perform.” 

Swift would have played before 100,000 spectators at the spring carnival event and an estimated global television audience of 1 billion.

The 1975 and Charli XCX with headline the six-city Laneway Australasian run early 2020. 

Charli XCX  ‘s appearance is an exclusive, as is Earl Sweatshirt’s.  

Among other acts were Aussie high-flyers Tones And I, King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard, Ruel, Ocean Alley, DMAs and Stella Donnelly. 

The festival lands at Albert Park, Auckland (Jan. 27), Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane (Feb. 1), The Domain, Sydney (Feb. 2), Harts Mill, Port Adelaide (Feb. 7), Footscray Park, Melbourne (Feb. 8) and Esplanade Reserve & West End, Fremantle (Feb. 9). 

Previous figures supplied to Pollstar by the festival saw a total attendance of 70,000.

Sydney-based Asia Pacific live events, ticketing and data analysis company TEG set up a new content division. 

TEG Experiences brings its family entertainment, experiential and exhibitions businesses under Dustin Lockett as managing director.  

He was commercial director of BBC Studios ANZ and director of Red Live Events and Touring.

TEG Experiences includes branded live family entertainment producer Life Like Touring; family entertainment and activation supplier and producer The Entertainment Store; and LEGO bricks exhibitions creator Brickman Exhibitions.

TEG chief executive Geoff Jones said it will produce family content in partnership with global brands across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. TEG acquired the UK’s MJR Group in August. 

Jones said “TEG is Australasia’s leader in live family entertainment and of the top three businesses of its kind globally in the fields of theatrical and experiential events. Now is the time for us to build on that position and pool our branded family entertainment assets.”

WOMAD New Zealand extended its four-year old ban on smoking to include vapes and e-cigarettes.  

Starting from its March 2020 event, infringers will have the item confiscated and escorted out by security. Suzanne Porter, chief executive of Taranaki Arts Festival Trust (TAFT), which runs WOMAD, said there were “rising issues” associated with it. 

In June the festival extended its 10-year host city partnership with New Plymouth District Council by another three years to 2022, will remain at TSB Bowl of Brooklands, Pukekura Park, until 2029, and extended its sponsorship with Todd Energy.

Independent ticketing agency Oztix expanded into the A$2.7 billion (US$1.82 billion) motor sports market signing on three major new clients. 

Canberra’s Street Machine Summernats Car Festival draws 100,000 over four days to see 200 modified vehicles. 

Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge which draws 20,000 to Sydney Motorsport Park, is this year held Oct. 18-19. Daredevil extreme freestyle motorcycle Crusty Demons’ first visit in ten years is expected to draw 40,000.