Your say on our draft busking and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural practice policy

What we’re doing

Sydney has a strong tradition of busking and buskers make an important contribution to the cultural life of the city. Our busking and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural practice local approvals policy outlines:

• the criteria by which the practice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture may take place in public places without an approval from the City.
• the criteria for a busking permit.

We’re proposing some minor changes to the policy, mostly for clarity, and seek your feedback.

Changes include:

• new limitations in the use of live flames
• current and valid contact details is a condition of holding a busking permit
• an option to conduct safety assessments remotely via video call or video recording
• other minor amendments to:
• describe succinctly the requirements and processes for assessing high impact acts
• better define outdoor events that may affect the availability of busking locations
• identify temporary special busking sites that may be established in association with outdoor events and festivals (eg. Vivid Sydney)
• clearly demonstrate the procedures involved in revoking a busking permit.

The policy is accompanied by the Sydney busking code, a guide that explains the rules for busking, how best to busk as well as the management system for popular high-traffic busking locations.