Peats Ridge Fest Investigation Stalled

Staged at the NSW Central Coast, it went belly up after the 2012-13 event with about $1.5 million in unaccounted ticket revenue, leaving acts and production crew out of pocket.

Liquidators Worrells claimed June it had evidence festival director Matthew Grant “breached a number of criminal sections of the Corporation Act,” citing insolvent trading, preferential payments, and inadequate record keeping.

The 2012 creditors might not see any money as it was allegedly used to pay debts from earlier festivals.

But after an 18-month investigation, ASIC suspended inquiries because it lacks funding.

“As the union representing performers & crew in the arts industry, we want to ensure that those responsible for the failure of the Peats Ridge Festival are held accountable, and send a message to our industry that people who attract and entertain the paying public should be paid fairly and protected from unscrupulous operators,” MEAA said.