Full Tilt festival organiser says promoters have ‘zero confidence’ in governments after live industry’s 'disgraceful’ treatment

Chris O’Brien, the promoter Chris O’Brien of the Full Tilt festival, has slammed Australia’s state governments as well as the Federal Government for a collective failure to support the industry through the COVID pandemic and related restrictions and lockdowns.

Following the postponement of Full Tilt’s Melbourne and Brisbane legs, and the cancellation of its Adelaide event which had been due to run this weekend, O’Brien advised today that Full Tilt's Sydney edition has been cancelled.

An announcement on the event’s Facebook page advised “due to be held on Saturday 26th of February at Bella Vista Farm (Full Tilt) has been cancelled due to the New South Wales' Government's decision to extend their current Public Health Order COVID restrictions by a further month.”

Coinciding with the announcement, O’Brien released a statement explaining that after being forced to scrap Full Tilt’s Sydney and Adelaide events, “we have zero confidence in any of the state governments anymore. They constantly backflip on restrictions with absolutely no notice or industry consultation.

“For the most part we have been disgracefully and completely ignored by the States and the Federal Government.

“Two years in (to the pandemic) and we still have no ability to trade and generate income as an industry on a national level.

“We have no grants coming in, no JobKeeper, no National insurance scheme so when the states do pull the rug from under us with no notice we are left high and dry.

“Where we thought there was light at the end of the tunnel late last year has very quickly evaporated and we sit here now with more uncertainty than ever before.

“They say it’s the darkest before dawn … well dawn feels like an eternity away.”

O’Brien, like many live entertainment organisers, is unhappy that religious group Hillsong has proceeded with festival type events that are operating during current restrictions.

Earlier this month, the NSW Government announced a $43 million 'Event Saver Fund', to help promoters recover costs on events cancelled or disrupted by COVID-19 public health orders.

Rescheduled Full Tilt festival events are currently planned for Melbourne and Brisbane in March and April.

Main image courtesy of Sarah Colwell Photography.