A rock festival headlined by Alice Cooper, Blondie, Deep Purple, and Placebo has been moved to Western Sydney from the CBD after complaints from the Returned Services League (RSL).
The event was supposed to take place on April 25, ANZAC Day, the day on which Australia and New Zealand commemorate their fallen soldiers.
Veterans, or family members representing deceased veterans, march through the city centre—a route which would have taken them close to the original site of the festival, the Domain, which is managed by the Botanic Gardens of Sydney.
NSW RSL President Mick Bainbridge criticised the decision to hold the event, calling it inappropriate on a day set aside for “respect and quiet contemplation.” He said the city centre should be reserved for veterans on ANZAC Day, but added that holding a rock concert anywhere that day was out of place.
AFL, NRL and Horse Racing Also to Occur
Other major events are also held on the day, including the annual Anzac Day NRL and AFL matches, as well as horse racing at Randwick, but NSW Premier Chris Minns said those were different as they were a long-standing partnership with the RSL and more encompassing of the spirit of Anzac Day.“A big part of that game is commemorating the ANZAC legacy and spirit and those that gave their life. The important difference is that [it] had been done in concert with the RSL,” he said.
“The same goes with the Australian Turf Club that seeks permission from the RSL before any race meetings take place.
“[A] reasonable person would be able to draw a distinction between a rock concert on ANZAC Day and the other 364 days of the year,” he said.Promoter Disappointed
Festival promoter Apex Entertainment has confirmed the event will instead take place at Sydney Olympic Park after talks with “key bodies” about moving it.But CEO Andrew McManus said it was “disappointing,” given that negotiations over the festival’s location began six months ago, and it was only one of many events—both sporting and cultural—taking place across the country that day.
“This is not an ANZAC Day concert, it is an event that is taking place on the public holiday of April 25th, as are many other events.”
The concert was intended to be respectful of ANZAC Day, and $10 from each ticket sold for the event would go to Wounded Heroes, which provides crisis support to current and former defence personnel and their families. Ticket prices start at $275.
He said the matter could have been handled better by the NSW government.
“We could have negotiated it without all this public kerfuffle, and politely moved out to where we’re going, at Cathy Freeman Park at Sydney Olympic precinct. It is disappointing that despite our best efforts to present the event in what we believe is an appropriate manner, there has been kickback from certain circles,” Mr. McManus said.
