Researchers from the University of Wollongong and the University of New South Wales have completed the first study of the impact of busking laws in Australia. Associate Professor Julia Quilter and Professor Luke McNamara have combined close analysis of the rules and regulations under the permit systems established by the City of Sydney and the City of Melbourne, with original fieldwork, including interviews with buskers in both cities. The main funding of their study is that it IS possible to introduce a permit system without stifling the capacity of street musicians and other performers to do their thing – including enlivening urban streets and malls and making a living. Quilter and McNamara conclude that: “On paper, the local council laws that govern busking in Australia’s two biggest cities look tough – permit requirements, time limits, and the threat of big fines if you break the rules. Hardly conducive to a thriving street music scene. But the reality is very different. The buskers we spoke to had very few complaints about being over-regulated. Gentle, education-focused enforcement by rangers and effective self-regulation by buskers are the magic ingredients.
You can find the full research paper by downloading it here: Quilter-and-McNamara
Or available online here:
http://law.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1774553/05-Quilter-and-McNamara.pdf