This Act sets out how the NSW Government can declare and manage "major events": it allows the Minister to name events and areas, appoint responsible authorities or event corporations, and give them powers for traffic, safety, commercial controls, advertising and airspace for defined event periods. It affects promoters, government agencies, local councils, businesses and attendees by enabling permits, temporary closures, prohibitions and penalties to organise and protect events and official commercial rights.
This Act establishes a statutory framework for declaring, facilitating and regulating designated "major events" in New South Wales. Mechanically, it does four core things:
Creates mechanisms to declare an event a major event (regulation, s 5) and to specify ancillary matters by Ministerial order, including the major event period, promoter, controlled areas, sales control periods, advertising-controlled sites and airspace, parking control periods and prescribed articles (s 5A). The Minister’s orders take effect when published in the Gazette or on a later date specified (s 5A(3)).
Constitutes major event authorities and responsible authorities to manage events, either by regulation-established corporations (Part 3, s 8) or by designation of an existing government agency or public official as the responsible authority (s 6). Major event authorities may be governed by a board or by a chief executive as declared by regulation (s 4, s 8).
Confers a package of special operational powers and regulatory controls for declared major events across public spaces, transport and commercial activity. Those controls include declaring transport areas and closing roads (ss 19, 26-29), creating and enforcing major event lanes (ss 23-25), controlling sale and distribution of prescribed articles in controlled areas (s 37), prohibiting advertising on defined advertising-controlled sites and in defined airspace (ss 39-40), managing crowd entry, searches and exclusions (ss 43-46), and modifying environmental and planning rules for specified major event activities (ss 50, 57-58).
Provides enforcement and remedial instruments: authorised officers (s 69A) and identification cards (s 70), penalty regimes, penalty notices (s 73) and court remedies including the responsible authority’s ability to seek Supreme Court injunctive and remedial orders for breaches of the Act or prescribed agreements (s 63). It also sets out limits on liability and compensation for acts done in good faith under the Act (ss 61-62A).
Current sections
Direct links to the current provisions in Major Events Act 2009.
This Act commences on the date of assent to this Act.
3
Objects of Act
3 Objects of Act
3 Objects of Act
The objects of this Act are as follows—
(a) to attract, support and facilitate the holding and conduct of major events in New South Wales, in particular, events that are anticipated to have a significant number of participants or spectators (whether of a sporting, cultural or other nature),
(b) to increase the benefits flowing from major events to the people of New South Wales,
(c) to promote the safety and enjoyment of participants and spectators at major events,
(d) to prevent unauthorised commercial exploitation of major events at the expense of event organisers and sponsors,
(e) to enable authorities that are to manage, co-ordinate or regulate major events to be established or designated by regulation,
(f) to make provision for the following matters in relation to major events—
(i) traffic control and the co-ordination of transport and parking,
(ii) the regulation of commercial exploitation of the events, including the prevention of ambush marketing and unauthorised use of official titles and insignia,
(iii) safety and crowd management,
(g) to ensure that government agencies are authorised to facilitate and support the holding and conduct of major events.
s 3: Am 2024 No 76, Sch 4[1].
4
Definitions
4 Definitions
4 Definitions
(1) In this Act—
authorised officer, for a major event, means a person authorised under section 69A to be an authorised officer for the major event.
board governed authority means a major event authority that is declared by a regulation under section 8 (2) (b) to be an authority governed by a board.
chief executive means a chief executive of a major event authority appointed under section 11.
chief executive governed authority means a major event authority that is declared by a regulation to be an authority governed by a chief executive.
exercise a function includes perform a duty.
function includes a power, authority or duty.
government agency means—
(a) a public authority constituted by or under an Act, or
(b) a NSW Government agency, or
(c) a Public Service agency, or
(d) a local council, or
(e) a State owned corporation,
but does not include the NSW Police Force.
major event means an event that is declared under Part 2 to be a major event.
major event area, for a major event, means an area declared under section 4B to be a major event area for the major event.
major event authority means a major event authority constituted under Part 3.
major event period—see section 5A(1)(a).
Ministerial order means an order made by the Minister under section 5A.
promoter, for a major event, means the person specified in a Ministerial order as the promoter for the major event.
responsible authority, in relation to a major event, means the person or body designated as the responsible authority for the major event under Part 2.
road and transport plan means a plan prepared by a responsible authority for a major event that sets out policies and procedures to be followed in relation to the provision of integrated road and transport services in relation to the major event.
(1) The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, declare an area to be the major event area for a major event.
(2) The Minister must not make an order for the purposes of subsection (1) unless the Minister considers that the whole of the proposed major event area is necessary to enable the conduct of the major event.
s 4B: Ins 2022 No 12, Sch 1[3].
4C
Cancellation or variation of order by Premier
4C Cancellation or variation of order by Premier
4C Cancellation or variation of order by Premier
(1) The Premier may cancel or vary an order of the Minister for a major event, including a Ministerial order, by giving written notice to the promoter for the event.
(2) The Premier may take action under this section only if—
(a) both of the following apply—
(i) taking the action is on the advice of a relevant person,
(ii) the Premier is reasonably satisfied taking the action is necessary because of a significant risk of harm to persons from a natural or other threat, or
(b) the Premier is reasonably satisfied taking the action is otherwise necessary in the public interest.
(3) The Premier is not required to consult with the promoter before taking action under this section.
(4) In this section—
relevant person means—
(a) the Commissioner of Police, or
(b) the Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW, or
(c) the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service, or
(d) the Commissioner of the State Emergency Service, or
(e) the Chief Health Officer.
vary includes impose conditions or restrictions.
s 4C: Ins 2024 No 76, Sch 4[5].
Part 2
Major events
Part 2 Major events
Part 2 Major events
5
Declaration of major event
5 Declaration of major event
5 Declaration of major event
(1) The regulations may declare an event to be a major event.
(2) The Minister may recommend the making of a regulation under subsection (1) only if the Minister is of the opinion that—
(a) it is in the public interest to make the regulation, and
(b) the event in respect of which the regulation is to be made is a major event at an international, national or State level.
(3) Without limiting any other matters the Minister may consider, the Minister may have regard to the following matters before determining whether to recommend the making of a regulation under subsection (1)—
(a) the potential size of the event,
(b) the likely number of spectators for the event,
(c) the possible media coverage of the event,
(d) the possible economic impact of the event,
(e) the potential contribution to New South Wales’s international profile as a host of major events,
(f) the commercial arrangements for the event, if known,
(g) the views of the event organiser, including the organiser’s event management experience and expertise,
(h) possible factors affecting the operational organisation of the event, such as the following—
(i) preparation of road and transport plans,
(ii) the need for emergency management plans,
(iii) the need for security plans and consultation with police and emergency services,
(i) if known, the views of local councils directly affected by the event in relation to the arrangements made or to be made for the event,
(j) the possible need for consultation and agreements to be made between the event organiser and affected local councils in relation to the event, including any agreements about the restoration of event venues and facilities,
(k) whether the event is a foundation event.
(4) A regulation under subsection (1) must describe the event.
(5) A regulation made under this section may be amended by another regulation.
(6) The regulations may not declare an industrial or political demonstration or protest to be a major event.
(7) For subsection (3)(k), a foundation event is an event—
(a) the Minister for Jobs and Tourism has determined to be significant, and
(b) held annually, biennially or otherwise on a recurring basis, and
(c) for which the State provides significant investment.
s 5: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[4] [5]; 2024 No 76, Sch 4[6]–[8].
5A
Minister may specify certain matters
5A Minister may specify certain matters
5A Minister may specify certain matters
(1) The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, specify the following for a major event—
(a) the period (the major event period) for which the declaration of the major event is in force,
(b) the provisions of Part 4 that apply in relation to the major event and the period for which the provisions apply,
(c) the person who is the promoter of the major event,
(d) an area as a controlled area under section 37(1),
(e) a sales control period for section 37,
(f) prescribed articles for section 37,
(g) a site as an advertising controlled site under section 39(1),
(h) airspace as advertising controlled airspace under section 40(1),
(i) a period as a parking control period for section 59,
(j) a thing to be a prohibited thing for section 43(7), definition of prohibited thing.
(2) To avoid doubt, a Ministerial order may provide that the responsible authority for a major event is the promoter of the major event.
(3) A Ministerial order takes effect on—
(a) the day the order is published in the Gazette, or
(b) a later day specified in the order.
s 5A: Ins 2024 No 76, Sch 4[9].
6
Designation of responsible authority
6 Designation of responsible authority
6 Designation of responsible authority
A regulation made under section 5 (1) must designate one of the following as the responsible authority for the major event—
(a) a major event authority or other government agency,
s 6: Am 2010 No 84, Sch 2.7; 2022 No 14, Sch 8.16.
7
Appointment of advisory committees
7 Appointment of advisory committees
7 Appointment of advisory committees
(1) The responsible authority for a major event may appoint such advisory committees as the responsible authority considers appropriate for the purposes of advising the responsible authority for the purposes of this Act.
(2) An advisory committee has such functions as the responsible authority may from time to time determine in writing in respect of it.
(3) An advisory committee consists of such committee members appointed by the responsible authority as the responsible authority thinks fit.
(4) An advisory committee member holds office for such period as is specified in the instrument of appointment of the committee member, but any such appointment may be terminated by the responsible authority at any time.
(5) One of the advisory committee members, in and by the instrument by which the committee member is appointed or another instrument made by the responsible authority, is to be appointed as chairperson of the committee.
(6) An advisory committee member is entitled to be paid such fees and allowances (if any) as the Minister may determine, from time to time, in respect of the committee member.
(7) Subject to the regulations and any directions of the responsible authority, the procedure of an advisory committee appointed under this section is to be as determined by the advisory committee.
(8) The responsible authority may dissolve an advisory committee appointed under this section.
Part 3
Major event authorities
Part 3 Major event authorities
Part 3 Major event authorities
8
Constitution of major event authorities
8 Constitution of major event authorities
8 Constitution of major event authorities
(1) The regulations may establish a corporation and constitute the corporation as a major event authority for the purposes of a specified major event.
(2) Such a regulation must—
(a) specify a corporate name for the major event authority, and
(b) declare whether the authority is a chief executive governed authority or a board governed authority, and
(c) set out the functions of the authority in relation to the major event.
(3) A major event authority is a NSW Government agency.
9
Management of authorities
9 Management of authorities
9 Management of authorities
(1) The affairs of a major event authority are to be managed and controlled by—
(a) if the authority is a chief executive governed authority—the chief executive of the authority, or
(b) if the authority is a board governed authority—the chief executive, subject to and in accordance with any directions given to the chief executive by the board of the authority.
(2) A major event authority is subject to the control and direction of the Minister in the exercise of its functions.
10
Major event authority boards
10 Major event authority boards
10 Major event authority boards
(1) There is constituted a major event authority board for each board governed authority.
(2) A major event authority board is to be called the “[name of board governed authority] Board”.
(3) The members of a board of a major event authority are to be appointed by the Minister.
(4) The regulations are to determine the number of the members of the board of a major event authority and the qualifications (if any) those members must have.
(5) Schedule 1 contains provisions relating to board governed authorities.
11
Chief executives of major event authorities
11 Chief executives of major event authorities
11 Chief executives of major event authorities
(1) The chief executive of a major event authority is the person employed in the Public Service as the chief executive of that authority.
(2) If the major event authority is a board governed authority, the chief executive may be represented at any meeting of the board by a person nominated for the time being by the chief executive. In representing the chief executive, the person nominated has and may exercise the same functions as the chief executive has at such a meeting (including voting rights), and is taken to be the chief executive.
(3) If the major event authority is a chief executive governed authority, except when making a recommendation to the Minister, the chief executive is, in the exercise of his or her functions, subject to the control and direction of the Minister.
(4) Any act, matter or thing done in the name of, or on behalf of, the major event authority by the chief executive of that major event authority is taken to have been done by the major event authority.
(5) (Repealed)
s 11: Am 2014 No 33, Sch 3.19 [2].
12
Dissolution, amalgamation and change of name and governance of major event authorities
12 Dissolution, amalgamation and change of name and governance of major event authorities
12 Dissolution, amalgamation and change of name and governance of major event authorities
(1) The regulations may—
(a) dissolve a major event authority, or
(b) change the name of a major event authority, or
(c) change the nature of governance of a major event authority—
(i) from board governed to chief executive governed, or
(ii) from chief executive governed to board governed, or
(d) amalgamate 2 or more major event authorities.
(2) Schedule 2 contains provisions relating to dissolutions, changes and amalgamations made under this section.
(3) A regulation under subsection (1) (d) that amalgamates 2 or more major event authorities must declare whether the amalgamated authority is a chief executive governed authority or a board governed authority.
(4) A regulation under this section may contain provisions, not inconsistent with the provisions of or made under Schedule 2, of a savings and transitional nature consequent on the making of the regulation.
Part 4
Facilitation of major events
Part 4 Facilitation of major events
Part 4 Facilitation of major events
Division 1
Application of Part
Division 1 Application of Part
Division 1 Application of Part
13
Provisions of part apply only if regulations or Ministerial order provide
13 Provisions of part apply only if regulations or Ministerial order provide
13 Provisions of part apply only if regulations or Ministerial order provide
(1) A provision of this part, other than section 38, does not apply in relation to a major event unless a Ministerial order declares that the provision applies.
(2) Section 38 does not apply in relation to a major event unless a regulation declares that the section applies.
(3) A provision of this part applies only—
(a) during the major event, or
(b) for section 38—during a shorter period prescribed by the regulations in relation to the section, or
(c) for another provision of this part—during a shorter period specified in the Ministerial order in relation to the provision.
s 13: Subst 2024 No 76, Sch 4[10].
Division 2
Co-ordination and co-operation of government agencies
Division 2 Co-ordination and co-operation of government agencies
Division 2 Co-ordination and co-operation of government agencies
13A
Responsible authority may consult with government agencies
13A Responsible authority may consult with government agencies
13A Responsible authority may consult with government agencies
The responsible authority for a major event may consult with government agencies to facilitate and support the holding and conduct of the major event.
s 13A: Ins 2024 No 76, Sch 4[11].
14
Obligations of government agencies
14 Obligations of government agencies
14 Obligations of government agencies
A government agency has the following obligations in respect of a major event—
(a) to co-operate with the responsible authority for the major event in the exercise of the responsible authority’s functions, including complying with any reasonable request of the responsible authority for information to enable the responsible authority to exercise its functions,
(b) to comply with the responsible authority’s road and transport plan for the major event in respect of which it has received notification by the responsible authority,
(c) to provide resources and assistance in accordance with any request of the responsible authority that is authorised by or under this Act,
(d) to notify the responsible authority of any proposed exercise of the agency’s functions that may impact adversely on the exercise of the responsible authority’s functions.
15
Powers of government agencies
15 Powers of government agencies
15 Powers of government agencies
Despite the provisions of any other Act or law, a government agency is—
(a) authorised to exercise any of its functions in order to comply with a request, direction or decision of a responsible authority made or given under this Act, and
(b) authorised and empowered to enter into agreements for the purposes of this Act with a responsible authority and may do or suffer anything necessary or expedient for carrying any such agreement into effect.
16
Minister may direct government agencies to co-operate
16 Minister may direct government agencies to co-operate
16 Minister may direct government agencies to co-operate
(1) The Minister may, by notice in writing given to a prescribed government agency, direct the agency to comply with a request, direction or decision of a responsible authority for a major event made or given under this Act.
(2) In this section, prescribed government agency means a government agency prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section.
17
SES, RFS and others may assist in the provision of government services for major events
17 SES, RFS and others may assist in the provision of government services for major events
17 SES, RFS and others may assist in the provision of government services for major events
(1) The State Emergency Service, the NSW Rural Fire Service and any other person or body prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section have the function of assisting the responsible authority in the delivery of services for the major event concerned, including (but not limited to) the following—
(a) crowd management services and access control services for venues or facilities,
(b) traffic or pedestrian control.
(2) The functions referred to in subsection (1) are in addition to any functions conferred or imposed on the State Emergency Service, the NSW Rural Fire Service or other person or body by or under any other Act or law.
(3) Nothing in this section requires the State Emergency Service or the NSW Rural Fire Service, or any member of those Services, to undertake any task or activity without the consent of the Commissioner of the State Emergency Service or the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service (as the case may be).
(4) The Security Industry Act 1997 does not apply to or in respect of any person who is carrying out functions under this section.
18
Dispute resolution
18 Dispute resolution
18 Dispute resolution
(1) If there is a dispute between the responsible authority for a major event and a government agency concerning the operation of any provision of this Act and the parties have after reasonable efforts been unable to resolve the dispute themselves, either party may request a review of the matter by the responsible Ministers (namely, the Minister responsible for the responsible authority and the Minister responsible for the government agency concerned).
(2) If the same Minister is responsible for both the responsible authority and the government agency concerned, the review is to be by that Minister.
(3) If the dispute is not resolved by the responsible Ministers or Minister, the dispute is to be referred to the Premier.
(4) The responsible authority and the government agency concerned are to give effect to any decision of the responsible Ministers, Minister or the Premier in resolution of the dispute.
(5) A reference in this section to the Minister responsible for a government agency is, in the case of a government agency that is a local council, a reference to the Minister administering the Local Government Act 1993.
Division 3
Management of roads and traffic
Division 3 Management of roads and traffic
Division 3 Management of roads and traffic
pt.4-div.3-sdiv.1
Transport areas
pt.4-div.3-sdiv.1 Transport areas
Subdivision 1 Transport areas
19
Declaration of transport areas
19 Declaration of transport areas
19 Declaration of transport areas
(1) The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, declare an area specified in the order to be a transport area.
(2) The Minister may make an order under this section only if the Minister is satisfied that the order is required to enable integrated road and transport services to be provided for a major event.
(3) As soon as practicable after making an order under this section, the Minister is to cause a copy of the order to be given to the Commissioner of Police and any government agency that has any of the functions referred to in section 20 (1) in the transport area concerned.
(4) An order under this section takes effect on the day the order is published in the Gazette or on a later day specified in the order.
(5) An order under this section remains in force for the period specified in the order.
20
Government agencies to comply with responsible authority’s directions
20 Government agencies to comply with responsible authority’s directions
20 Government agencies to comply with responsible authority’s directions
(1) A responsible authority for a major event may direct a government agency to exercise in a particular way any of the following functions that the government agency has in a transport area—
(a) any function relating to the provision of transport,
(b) any function relating to the regulation or movement of traffic,
(c) any function relating to the provision, regulation or prohibition of parking,
(d) any function that might impact on any of the functions of a government agency referred to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).
(2) A government agency is to comply, as far as is reasonably possible, with a direction given to it under this section.
pt.4-div.3-sdiv.2
Road transport legislation
pt.4-div.3-sdiv.2 Road transport legislation
Subdivision 2 Road transport legislation
21
Definitions—Subdivision 2
21 Definitions—Subdivision 2
21 Definitions—Subdivision 2
(1) In this Subdivision—
major event lane—see section 24 (3).
private road means an area that is not open to or used by the public and is developed for, or has as one of its main uses, the driving or riding of motor vehicles.
(3) In the event of an inconsistency between this Subdivision and the road transport legislation, this Subdivision prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.
(4) The provisions of this Subdivision and sections 62 and 62A have effect despite section 14 of the Road Transport Act 2013.
s 22: Am 2013 No 19, Sch 4.40 [2]; 2014 No 31, Sch 5.8 [1]; 2022 No 12, Sch 1[6].
23
Major event lane signs
23 Major event lane signs
23 Major event lane signs
(1) A sign that is a reasonable likeness (within the meaning of rule 316 (4) of the Road Rules 2014) of the diagram prescribed by the statutory rules under the Road Transport Act 2013 as a major event lane sign is a major event lane sign for the purposes of this Subdivision.
(2) A sign that is a reasonable likeness (within the meaning of rule 316 (4) of the Road Rules 2014) of the diagram prescribed by the statutory rules under the Road Transport Act 2013 as an end major event lane sign is an end major event lane sign for the purposes of this Subdivision.
(3) A sign to which this section applies is a prescribed traffic control device for the purposes of Part 5.3 of the Road Transport Act 2013.
s 23: Am 2013 No 19, Sch 4.40 [3] [4]; 2014 (762), Sch 1.
24
Use of lanes
24 Use of lanes
24 Use of lanes
(1) A driver must not drive, during a major event period, in a major event lane unless—
(a) the driver is driving—
(i) a vehicle that displays, in accordance with instructions given by the responsible authority, a permit issued by the responsible authority for the major event to drive the vehicle in the major event lane, or
(ii) a public bus or taxi, or
(iii) a police vehicle or an emergency vehicle, or
(b) the driver is driving in the major event lane in the same circumstances as a driver is permitted to drive in a transit lane under rule 158 of the Road Rules 2014.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.
(2) A person may ride a bicycle in a major event lane.
(3) A major event lane is a marked lane, or part of a marked lane—
(1) The responsible authority for a major event may issue a permit to a person to authorise the person to drive a vehicle (or be driven in a vehicle) in a major event lane (a major event lane permit).
(2) A police officer may direct the person in charge of a vehicle that is displaying a major event lane permit (or a document that purports to be such a permit) in a major event lane to remove the permit or document from the vehicle and give it to the officer.
(3) A police officer to whom such a permit or document is given may do any one or more of the following—
(a) inspect the permit or document,
(b) request the person purporting to be the holder of the permit to identify himself or herself,
(c) request and inspect the identification of that person for the purpose of confirming that person’s identity,
(d) if the officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that—
(i) a permit given to the officer is not being used by the holder of the permit, or
(ii) a document purporting to be a permit is not a permit,
confiscate the permit or document.
(4) A person to whom a direction is given under subsection (2) must immediately comply with that direction.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.
26
Road closures—integrated road and transport services
26 Road closures—integrated road and transport services
26 Road closures—integrated road and transport services
(1) This section applies to roads within transport areas.
(2) TfNSW may, at the direction of the responsible authority for a major event, close a road for any length of time during the major event period for the purpose of providing integrated road and transport services for the major event.
(3) A road cannot be closed under this section unless TfNSW has, not less than 3 days before the proposed closure, given public notice of the proposed closure by a notice published on the website of TfNSW.
s 26: Am 2011 No 41, Sch 5.20 [2]; 2020 No 30, Sch 4.39[2]; 2022 No 12, Sch 1[7]; 2024 No 76, Sch 4[12].
27
Road closures—major events
27 Road closures—major events
27 Road closures—major events
(1) This section applies to roads whether or not the roads are within a transport area.
(2) The responsible authority for a major event may prepare a traffic management plan, or plans, for all roads on which activities associated with a major event are to be conducted.
(3) The responsible authority may, in accordance with a traffic management plan—
(a) control and regulate traffic in any manner and for any purpose, and
(b) temporarily close a road, or part of a road, at any time and for any purpose.
(4) A traffic management plan may, with the consent of the owner or occupier of a private road, apply to a private road in the same way as it applies to roads that are not private roads, subject to subsection (5).
(5) A traffic management plan cannot authorise the closure of a private road unless the owner or occupier of the private road has consented to the closure. Such a consent may be given generally or in a particular case or class of cases.
(6) A traffic management plan is to be prepared in consultation with TfNSW and does not have effect unless and until TfNSW has consented in writing to the plan.
(7) The consent of TfNSW under subsection (6) is taken to be a consent for the purposes of the Roads Act 1993 and the road transport legislation in so far as the consent of TfNSW would, but for this subsection, be required under that Act or that legislation in relation to any matter dealt with in or arising under the traffic management plan.
(8) A traffic management plan may be amended from time to time. Subsection (6) applies to the amendment of a traffic management plan in the same way as it applies to the preparation of a traffic management plan.
(9) A road cannot be closed under this section unless TfNSW has, not less than 3 days before the proposed closure, given public notice of the proposed closure by a notice published on the website of TfNSW.
s 27: Am 2011 No 41, Sch 5.20 [2]; 2020 No 30, Sch 4.39[2]; 2022 No 12, Sch 1[8]; 2024 No 76, Sch 4[13].
28
Road closures—short periods
28 Road closures—short periods
28 Road closures—short periods
(1) This section applies to roads whether or not the roads are within a transport area.
(2) TfNSW may, at the direction of the responsible authority for a major event, close a road for a period not exceeding 7 days during the relevant major event period for any of the following purposes—
(a) facilitating the conduct of the major event,
(b) controlling and regulating traffic within or near a major event area,
(c) ensuring the safety of persons,
(d) protecting property from damage.
(3) It is not necessary to give public notice of the closure of a road under this section.
s 28: Am 2011 No 41, Sch 5.20 [2]; 2020 No 30, Sch 4.39[2]; 2022 No 12, Sch 1[9]; 2024 No 76, Sch 4[14].
29
Road closure to be for shortest possible period
29 Road closure to be for shortest possible period
29 Road closure to be for shortest possible period
It is the duty of TfNSW and the responsible authority for a major event to ensure that a road is not closed under this Subdivision for a period longer than is necessary to serve the purpose for which the road is closed.
s 29: Am 2011 No 41, Sch 5.20 [2]; 2020 No 30, Sch 4.39[2].
30
Offences relating to road closures
30 Offences relating to road closures
30 Offences relating to road closures
(1) If, under this Subdivision, a road is closed to vehicles (whether or not it is also closed to pedestrians) by the use of a sign or barrier, a person must not bring a vehicle onto the road contrary to the sign or by removing, interfering with or going beyond the barrier, except as permitted by an authorised officer.
Maximum penalty—30 penalty units.
(2) If, under this Subdivision, a road is closed to vehicles (whether or not it is also closed to pedestrians) by the use of a sign or barrier, a person in charge of a vehicle situated on the road who is informed by an authorised officer that the road is closed and directed by an authorised officer to remove the vehicle from the road must remove the vehicle from the road as soon as practicable after the direction is given.
Maximum penalty—30 penalty units.
(3) If, under this Subdivision, a road is closed to pedestrians (whether or not it is also closed to vehicles) by the use of a sign or barrier, a person must not, without reasonable excuse, enter the road contrary to the sign or by removing, interfering with or going beyond the barrier, except as permitted by an authorised officer.
Maximum penalty—30 penalty units.
(4) If, under this Subdivision, a road is closed to pedestrians (whether or not it is also closed to vehicles) by the use of a sign or barrier, a person on the road who is informed by an authorised officer that the road is closed and directed by an authorised officer to leave the road must leave the road as soon as practicable after the direction is given.
Maximum penalty—30 penalty units.
(5) A person must not damage, remove or interfere with a sign or barrier erected or provided for the purpose of closing a road under this Subdivision, except as permitted by an authorised officer.
Maximum penalty—30 penalty units.
(6) In this section—
authorised officer means—
(a) a person who has received, for the purposes of this section, written authorisation from TfNSW or the responsible authority for the major event, or
(b) a police officer.
s 30: Am 2011 No 41, Sch 5.20 [2]; 2020 No 30, Sch 4.39[2]; 2022 No 12, Sch 1[10].
31
Effect of road closure
31 Effect of road closure
31 Effect of road closure
A road, or any part of a road, does not cease to be a road for the purposes of the road transport legislation, the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 or any other Act or law because it is closed or access to it is restricted or the use of it is restricted under this Subdivision or any other Act.
32
Removal of unattended motor vehicles—generally
32 Removal of unattended motor vehicles—generally
32 Removal of unattended motor vehicles—generally
(1) This section applies to an unattended motor vehicle or trailer that—
(a) is standing unlawfully, or
(b) constitutes a danger to persons or property, or
(c) is causing an obstruction.
(2) The responsible authority for a major event may declare that, for the whole or any specified part of the major event period, section 143 of the Road Transport Act 2013 applies to motor vehicles or trailers to which this section applies on the following places in the same way as it applies to an unattended motor vehicle or trailer unlawfully standing on a prescribed place within the meaning of that section—
(a) a major event lane,
(b) a road that has been closed under this Subdivision,
(c) a specified parking space,
(d) a road notified by the Minister by order published in the Gazette as a major event route,
(e) a road or area designated by signs erected by the responsible authority or TfNSW as a tow-away area or Special Event Clearway.
s 32: Am 2011 No 41, Sch 5.20 [2]; 2013 No 19, Sch 4.40 [5]; 2020 No 30, Sch 4.39[2].
33
Removal of unattended motor vehicles—breach of parking restrictions
33 Removal of unattended motor vehicles—breach of parking restrictions
33 Removal of unattended motor vehicles—breach of parking restrictions
The responsible authority for a major event may declare that, for the whole or any specified part of a major event period, section 143 of the Road Transport Act 2013 applies to unattended motor vehicles or trailers that are parked on specified roads in breach of a parking restriction in the same way as it applies to an unattended motor vehicle or trailer unlawfully standing on a prescribed place within the meaning of that section.
s 33: Am 2013 No 19, Sch 4.40 [6].
34
Declarations under sections 32 and 33
34 Declarations under sections 32 and 33
34 Declarations under sections 32 and 33
A declaration under section 32 (Removal of unattended motor vehicles—generally) or 33 (Removal of unattended motor vehicles—breach of parking restrictions) is to be published on the website of TfNSW and has effect from the date of publication or, if a later date is specified in the declaration for that purpose, on the later date so specified.
s 34: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[11].
35
Removal of unattended motor vehicles—emergencies
35 Removal of unattended motor vehicles—emergencies
35 Removal of unattended motor vehicles—emergencies
(1) At any time during a major event period, the responsible authority for the major event may—
(a) request a police officer, or
(b) direct another appropriate officer,
to remove an unattended motor vehicle or trailer from a road within a transport area if the responsible authority is of the opinion that it is necessary to do so.
(2) The provisions of section 143 (2)–(8) of the Road Transport Act 2013 apply to the removal of an unattended motor vehicle or trailer in accordance with this section in the same way as they apply to the removal of an unattended motor vehicle or trailer in accordance with that section.
(3) However, it is not necessary that the unattended motor vehicle or trailer is standing unlawfully.
For the avoidance of doubt, and without limiting the application of any other powers of prosecution or enforcement under the road transport legislation, penalty notices may be issued under the road transport legislation in relation to offences created by this Subdivision.
Division 4
Commercial and airspace controls
Division 4 Commercial and airspace controls
Division 4 Commercial and airspace controls
37
Control of sale and distribution of articles in certain public places
37 Control of sale and distribution of articles in certain public places
37 Control of sale and distribution of articles in certain public places
(1) For the purposes of this section, a Ministerial order may prescribe an area as a controlled area for a major event.
(1A) A controlled area must be—
(a) the area comprising or comprising and adjacent to—
(i) a transport facility or interchange, or
(ii) a major event area, or
(b) a public place within 100m of—
(i) a transport facility or interchange, or
(ii) a major event area.
(2) A person must not sell or distribute a prescribed article during the sales control period in a controlled area without the approval of the responsible authority.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
(3) An authorised officer may give a direction to a person who sells or distributes any prescribed article during the sales control period in a controlled area without the approval of the responsible authority to remove the article, and any other prescribed articles within the person’s possession or under the person’s control, from the area immediately or by such other time as may be directed.
(4) A person must not fail or refuse to comply with a direction given to the person by an authorised officer under subsection (3).
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
(5) If a person fails or refuses to comply with a direction given under subsection (3) for the removal of a prescribed article, the article is forfeited to the Crown and may be seized by an authorised officer.
(6) A person whose article is forfeited to the Crown under this section may appeal against the forfeiture to the Local Court within 21 days after the forfeiture.
(7) The Local Court may determine the appeal by—
(a) upholding the forfeiture, or
(b) ordering the return of the article to the appellant, or
(c) making such other order as it thinks fit.
(8) The regulations may also make provision for or with respect to—
(a) approvals under this section, including—
(i) applications for approval, and
(ii) application fees, and
(iii) determination of applications, and
(iv) appeals against determinations of applications, and
(b) the making and determination of appeals under subsection (7).
(9) In this section—
prescribed article means an article of a class specified by a Ministerial order as being a prescribed article for the purposes of this section.
sales control period means the period specified by a Ministerial order for the purposes of this section.
sell includes any of the following—
(a) sell by wholesale, retail, auction or tender,
(b) hire,
(c) barter or exchange,
(d) supply for profit,
(e) offer for sale or hire, receive for sale or hire, have in possession for sale or hire or expose or exhibit for sale or hire,
(f) conduct negotiations for sale or hire,
(g) consign or deliver for sale or hire,
(h) solicit for sale or hire,
(i) cause or permit anything referred to above,
and includes to sell from a standing vehicle or any article.
(10) A regulation for the purposes of the definition of sales control period in subsection (9) that extends a sales control period may be made before or during that period.
s 37: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[12]–[14]; 2024 No 76, Sch 4[15] [16].
38
Control of airspace
38 Control of airspace
38 Control of airspace
(1) In this section—
CASA means the Civil Aviation Safety Authority established by the Civil Aviation Act 1988 of the Commonwealth.
controlled airspace means airspace that CASA has determined under the Commonwealth Airspace Regulations to be a control area or control zone.
restricted area means airspace that CASA has declared under the Commonwealth Airspace Regulations to be a restricted area.
State air navigation means air navigation within New South Wales to and in relation to which the Commonwealth Air Navigation Regulations are applied as if they were State law by section 4 of the Air Navigation Act 1938.
(2) A person must not, during a major event and in the course of State air navigation, cause an aircraft to enter, or operate an aircraft within, controlled airspace or a restricted area that is over a major event area unless permitted to do so by or under relevant Commonwealth law (including permission by or under an instrument given under such a law).
Maximum penalty—2,000 penalty units.
(3) The provisions of this section prevail to the extent of any inconsistency between this section and the provisions of the Commonwealth Air Navigation Regulations (as applied to and in relation to State air navigation by the Air Navigation Act 1938).
(4) This section does not apply to the operation of—
(a) a military aircraft, or an aircraft of the NSW Police Force, when being operated for military, security or emergency purposes, or
(b) an aircraft when being operated exclusively for emergency purposes relating to human life or safety, or the protection of property.
s 38: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[15].
39
Prohibition of certain advertising on buildings and structures
39 Prohibition of certain advertising on buildings and structures
39 Prohibition of certain advertising on buildings and structures
(1) For the purposes of this section, a Ministerial order may prescribe a site as an advertising controlled site for a major event.
(2) An advertising controlled site must be—
(a) in a major event area for the major event, or
(b) in an area within 500m of a major event area for the major event.
(3) Notice of the advertising controlled site must be published in a way the Minister considers appropriate to bring the notice to the attention of persons who may be affected by the prescription of the site as an advertising controlled site.
(4) Except as authorised or permitted by the responsible authority for the major event, a person who is the owner or occupier or the holder of a lease or licence relating to a building or structure that is (or is part of) an advertising controlled site must not, while the land is an advertising controlled site—
(a) cause or permit any advertising material to be fixed to or placed on the building or structure, or
(b) fail to ensure that any advertising material already fixed to or placed on a building or structure is covered, obliterated or removed.
Maximum penalty—
(a) in the case of an individual—250 penalty units, or
(b) in the case of a corporation—500 penalty units.
(5) A person authorised by the responsible authority for the major event for the purposes of this subsection may cover, obliterate or remove any advertising material that is on a building or structure in contravention of subsection (4).
(6) A person authorised under subsection (5) may enter—
(a) an advertising controlled site to undertake the covering, obliteration or removal referred to in that subsection, and
(b) other adjacent premises, if necessary to undertake that covering, obliteration or removal.
(7) A person is not entitled under this section to enter a part of premises used only for residential purposes, except with the consent of the occupier of the part.
(8) In exercising functions under subsections (5) and (6), the person must—
(a) cause as little damage as possible, and
(b) produce to any person apparently in charge of the premises who requests its production the person’s authorisation under that subsection.
(9) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (4) that relates to an area to which subsection 2(b) applies, if the defendant establishes that the advertising material concerned—
(a) was fixed to or placed on the building or structure before the area was specified as an advertising controlled site, and
(b) was so fixed or placed by a person as part of the person’s ordinary activities and not in anticipation of the major event concerned, and
(c) does not contain any statement, or make any inference, that the advertiser is a sponsor or supporter of, or is in any way connected with, the major event concerned.
(10) For the avoidance of doubt, the functions under subsections (5) and (6) may be exercised in relation to advertising material even if a person is able to establish the defence under subsection (9) in relation to that material.
(11) This section does not apply to the following advertising material—
(a) any advertising material—
(i) that has an area of not more than one square metre, or
(ii) comprising a series of related advertisements that together have an area of not more than one square metre,
(b) any advertising material that is exempted from this section by a Ministerial order.
s 39: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[16]–[18]; 2024 No 76, Sch 4[15] [17].
39A
Prohibition of certain advertising on digital billboard vehicles
39A Prohibition of certain advertising on digital billboard vehicles
39A Prohibition of certain advertising on digital billboard vehicles
(1) This section applies if a site is an advertising controlled site under section 39.
(2) A person who is the owner or operator of a digital billboard vehicle must not use the digital billboard vehicle, or allow the digital billboard vehicle to be used, within the advertising controlled site for the purposes of advertising unless permitted or authorised by the responsible authority for the major event.
Maximum penalty—
(a) for an individual—250 penalty units, or
(b) otherwise—500 penalty units.
(3) In this section—
digital billboard vehicle means a vehicle equipped with LED screens.
Under the Road Rules 2014, a vehicle includes a motor vehicle, a trailer and a bicycle.
s 39A: Ins 2024 No 76, Sch 4[18].
40
Prohibition of certain aerial advertising
40 Prohibition of certain aerial advertising
40 Prohibition of certain aerial advertising
(1) For the purposes of this section, a Ministerial order may prescribe airspace as advertising controlled airspace for a major event.
(1A) The advertising controlled airspace must be within the line of sight of a major event area for the major event.
(2) A person must not display an advertisement, or cause an advertisement to be displayed, in advertising controlled airspace, except with the approval of the responsible authority for the major event concerned.
Maximum penalty—2,000 penalty units.
(3) An application for the approval of the responsible authority under this section may be made in such form and manner as is determined by the responsible authority.
(4) The responsible authority may determine an application by granting the application, unconditionally or subject to conditions, or by refusing the application.
(5) For the purposes of this section, the responsible authority may grant approval to a person, or to classes or descriptions of persons, only if in its opinion the display of the advertisement will not adversely affect the organisation or conduct of the major event.
(6) The determination of the responsible authority with respect to an application for approval is final.
(7) For the purposes of this section—
advertisement includes advertising by any of the following methods—
(a) skywriting or signwriting by an aircraft,
(b) a banner, or other sign, towed by or attached to an aircraft,
(c) matter displayed on an aircraft, other than its normal markings and livery,
(d) matter displayed on a hang glider, parachute, paraglider or similar device, other than its normal markings, or on a banner or sign attached to a hang glider, parachute, paraglider or similar device,
(e) a banner, or other sign, attached to a person suspended from a hang glider, parachute, paraglider or similar device.
aircraft includes an airship, balloon or drone or other unmanned aerial vehicle.
s 40: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[19] [20]; 2024 No 76, Sch 4[15].
41
Commercial and other activities
41 Commercial and other activities
41 Commercial and other activities
(1) A person must not do any of the following within a major event area, except as authorised by the responsible authority—
(a) provide, or offer to provide, any services for fee, gain or reward,
(b) sell or attempt to sell a ticket for admission to a major event area,
(c) use any audio, loudspeaker or broadcasting equipment or camera (whether photographic, cinematic or video) for a commercial purpose,
(d) damage, destroy or remove any building, structure or equipment,
(e) leave any rubbish or litter, except in a receptacle provided for the purpose,
(f) collect or attempt to collect money from members of the public,
(f1) undertake charitable activities, including collecting money for a charitable purpose,
(g) busk,
(h) conduct, or participate in, any game or other activity in a manner that unduly interferes with the amenity of the area,
(i) operate or use any radio, television, record-player, tape recorder, compact disc player, musical instrument or other sound-generating device in a manner that unduly interferes with the amenity of the area,
(j) erect a tent or other temporary structure,
(k) paint, erect or affix any decoration, sign or other equipment,
(l) carry or discharge or have in the person’s possession any firearm (within the meaning of the Firearms Act 1996) or prohibited weapon (within the meaning of the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998), unless—
(i) the person is a police officer of the State or the Commonwealth, or
(m) anything else that is contrary to a condition of entry to the major event area that is displayed on a sign approved by the relevant authority and erected at the entry to, or within, the major event area.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.
(2) An authorisation under this section may be given to a person or a class of persons.
s 41: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[15] [21]; 2024 No 76, Sch 4[19] [20].
42
Use of official title and official insignia
42 Use of official title and official insignia
42 Use of official title and official insignia
(1) A person must not use any official title, or official insignia, of a major event for a commercial purpose without the written consent of the responsible authority.
Maximum penalty—200 penalty units.
(2) A consent under this section—
(a) may be given with or without conditions (including conditions requiring payment to the responsible authority or another person), and
(b) may be revoked by the responsible authority for breach of a condition by notice in writing given personally or by post to a person who has the benefit of the consent.
(3) In this section—
official insignia means a logo, symbol or other design approved by the responsible authority and prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section.
official title means the title of the major event approved by the responsible authority and prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section.
s 42: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[22].
Division 5
Safety and crowd management at major events
Division 5 Safety and crowd management at major events
Division 5 Safety and crowd management at major events
43
Crowd management
43 Crowd management
43 Crowd management
(1) The responsible authority for a major event may do any one or more of the following—
(a) limit the number of persons who may enter a major event area or any part of a major event area,
(b) prohibit categories of persons from entering, or limit categories of persons who may enter, or limit the number of persons within categories of persons who may enter, a major event area or any part of a major event area,
(c) close a major event area or any part of a major event area to the public,
(d) charge admission to a major event area or any part of a major event area,
(e) prohibit persons from entering a major event area or any part of a major event area—
(i) if they are in possession of any prohibited thing, or
(ii) if, in the opinion of a person authorised by the responsible authority, they are or appear to be intoxicated.
(2) The responsible authority for a major event may do any one or more of the following—
(a) prohibit the entry of vehicles or vessels to a major event area or any part of a major event area,
(b) regulate or otherwise control the entry of vehicles or vessels to a major event area or any part of a major event area,
(c) refuse to admit a vehicle or vessel to a major event area or any part of a major event area.
(3) The responsible authority may take any action referred to in subsection (1) or (2) by means of the erection of a sign or the giving of a direction to the person concerned.
(4) A person must not do anything in wilful contravention of a sign erected or a direction given under this section.
Maximum penalty—20 penalty units.
(5) Nothing in this section limits any other function of the responsible authority under this Act.
(6) This section does not prohibit a person with a disability (within the meaning of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 of the Commonwealth) from being accompanied by an assistance animal (that is, an animal referred to in section 9 of that Act).
(7) In this section, prohibited thing means the following—
(g) any other thing specified by a Ministerial order for the purposes of this definition.
s 43: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[15]; 2024 No 76, Sch 4[16].
44
Personal conduct
44 Personal conduct
44 Personal conduct
(1) A person must not do any of the following within a major event area—
(a) use indecent, obscene or threatening language,
(b) behave in an offensive or indecent manner,
(c) cause serious alarm or affront to a person by disorderly conduct,
(d) obstruct a person in the performance of the person’s work or duties,
(e) fail to comply with a reasonable request or direction given for the purpose of securing good order and management and enjoyment of a major event area, or any part of a major event area, by the responsible authority or an authorised officer.
Maximum penalty—10 penalty units.
(2) (Repealed)
s 44: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[14] [15] [21].
45
Request to undergo search as condition of entry to major event area
45 Request to undergo search as condition of entry to major event area
45 Request to undergo search as condition of entry to major event area
(1) A person’s entry to a major event area (or any part of a major event area) is subject to the condition that the person must comply with such of the following requests as may be made of the person—
(a) a request by an authorised officer that the person undergo a search conducted by electronic means (such as by passing an electronic detection device over or in close proximity to the person or by the person passing through a detection device),
(b) a request by an authorised officer that the person allow a search of articles in the person’s possession and identify articles in the person’s possession,
(c) a request by an authorised officer that the person remove his or her overcoat, coat or jacket or similar article of clothing and any gloves, shoes and hat (or other headwear), and allow an examination of those items,
(d) if the person enters in a vehicle or vessel—a request by an authorised officer that the person open the vehicle or vessel, or part of it, for inspection and allow the vehicle, vessel or part to be searched.
Note—
A failure to comply with such a request is not an offence. However, a person who refuses such a request may be excluded from entry to the major event area or part of the major event area concerned under subsection (2).
(2) An authorised officer may exclude a person who refuses such a request from entry to the major event area or part of the major event area concerned.
(3) Reasonable force may be used to effect the person’s exclusion.
(4) (Repealed)
s 45: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[14] [15].
46
Directions to leave
46 Directions to leave
46 Directions to leave
(1) An authorised officer may require a person who is in any part of a major event area, or who is seeking entry to any part of a major event area, to produce a ticket or permit authorising the person to enter that part of the major event area.
(2) An authorised officer may direct a person to leave a part of a major event area if the person is not authorised by a ticket or permit to be in that part of the major event area.
(3) An authorised officer may request a person who is in any part of a major event area—
(a) to open any bag, container or other thing in the person’s possession in order that its contents may be inspected, and
(b) to permit any thing in the person’s possession, and the contents of any such thing, to be inspected.
Note—
A failure to comply with such a request is not an offence. However, a person who refuses such a request may be directed to leave the major event area or any part of the major event area concerned under subsection (4) (c). Failure to comply with such a direction is an offence under subsection (5).
(3A) An authorised officer may do the following—
(a) direct a person who is in control of a locker, storage area or other locked area in a major event area to open the locker, storage area or other locked area so that the contents of the locker, storage area or other locked area may be inspected,
(b) if the person in control of a locker, storage area or other locked area in a major event area cannot be identified or located—open the locker, storage area or other locked area so the contents of the locker, storage area or other locked area may be inspected,
(c) inspect a locker, storage area or other locked area in a major event area and the contents of the locker, storage area or other locked area.
Example—
a staff locker on premises in a major event area
(4) An authorised officer may direct a person to leave a major event area or any part of a major event area if the officer believes on reasonable grounds that—
(a) the person is contravening or has contravened any provision of this Act or the regulations or is committing or has committed any other offence within the major event area, or
(b) the person is failing or has failed to comply with a notice or direction referred to in section 43 (Crowd management), or
(c) the person is failing or has failed to comply with a request under subsection (3), or
(d) the person is causing a significant disruption or inconvenience or behaving in an offensive manner or in a manner likely to endanger the person or another person, or
(e) the person is about to contravene a provision of this Act or the regulations within the major event area.
(5) A person must not fail to comply with a direction under this section.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
(6) An authorised officer may remove from the major event area any person who fails to comply with a direction under this section.
(7) Reasonable force may be used to effect the person’s removal.
(8) (Repealed)
s 46: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[14] [15] [23] [24]; 2024 No 76, Sch 4[21].
47
Prohibition on entry to certain areas within major event area
47 Prohibition on entry to certain areas within major event area
47 Prohibition on entry to certain areas within major event area
(1) A person must not enter or remain on a relevant area within a major event area unless the person—
(a) is a participant in an event held with the authorisation of the responsible authority for the major event, or
(b) is engaged in the control or management of the event or relevant area, or
(c) is, or is a member of a class of persons that is, authorised by the responsible authority for the major event to enter the relevant area.
(2) In this section—
relevant area means—
(a) a playing field or other competition area, or
(b) a stage or other performance area, or
(c) an area for which accreditation is required.
s 47: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[15] [25]. Subst 2024 No 76, Sch 4[22].
48
Responsible authority may ban persons for specified period
48 Responsible authority may ban persons for specified period
48 Responsible authority may ban persons for specified period
(1) If a responsible authority for a major event is of the opinion that a person has contravened any provision of this Act or the regulations, the responsible authority may ban the person from entering any major event area (or part of a major event area) for such period (not exceeding 6 months) as the responsible authority determines.
(2) A person who is banned from entering a major event area under this section must not enter the major event area while the ban is in force.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
s 48: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[15].
49
Taking photographs etc of certain persons
49 Taking photographs etc of certain persons
49 Taking photographs etc of certain persons
The responsible authority for a major event may take a photograph or video, or make another form of image, of a person who is removed from a major event area under this Act.
s 49: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[15]; 2024 No 76, Sch 4[23] [24].
Division 6
Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
Division 6 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
(a) the responsible authority for the major event has obtained written approval from the Minister to carry out the major event activity for the purposes of the major event, and
(b) the major event activity is carried out in accordance with the Minister’s written approval.
(3) In the event of an inconsistency between this Division and the Local Government Act 1993, this Division prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.
53
Modification of certain approvals
53 Modification of certain approvals
53 Modification of certain approvals
(1) A person who is authorised or permitted to do anything by or under this Act, or a policy, strategy or plan prepared and implemented by the responsible authority for a major event for the purposes of this Act, may do that thing despite the fact that the doing of it is not authorised by or is contrary to, or inconsistent with, the terms or conditions of an approval granted under the Local Government Act 1993.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a thing is done under this Act if it is done pursuant to a declaration under section 57.
(3) A person does not breach the terms or conditions of an approval relating to—
(a) the management of waste, being an approval under item 1, 2, 3 or 4 of Part C of the Table to section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993, or
(b) the hours during which an activity may take place, or
(c) the means of access to land or premises, or
(d) the emission of noise, including permissible noise levels, or
(e) the effect of an activity on the amenity of the locality,
by the doing of anything that is reasonably necessary to be done by or under, or as a consequence of the operation of, this Act, that is reasonably necessary to be done in order to comply with or give effect to a policy, strategy or plan prepared and implemented by the responsible authority for the purposes of this Act or that is done pursuant to a declaration under section 57.
(4) A person who is exempt from the requirement to obtain an approval under section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993 does not cease to be exempt from the requirement by the doing of anything that is reasonably necessary to be done under, or as a consequence of the operation of, this Act.
54
Use of community land
54 Use of community land
54 Use of community land
(1) Nothing in the Local Government Act 1993 or an instrument under that Act, including a plan of management for community land, prevents or restricts the use of community land, with the approval of the local council, for any of the following purposes—
(a) events approved by the responsible authority in relation to a major event,
(b) development for the purposes of temporary venues or facilities for a major event,
(c) an activity or a community event associated with a major event and held during the relevant major event period.
(2) For the purpose of obtaining an approval of the local council under subsection (1), the use of community land for a purpose specified in that subsection is taken to be an activity prescribed by the regulations as referred to in item 10 of Part F of the Table to section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993.
s 54: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[27].
55
Authorised persons under Local Government Act 1993
55 Authorised persons under Local Government Act 1993
An employee of a local council who is an authorised person for the purposes of the Local Government Act 1993 and who exercises functions during the relevant major event period for another local council is taken to have been authorised by that other local council to exercise those functions and to be an authorised person for the purposes of that Act in relation to that other local council.
s 55: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[28].
Division 8
Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997
Division 8 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997
(1) The responsible authority for a major event may declare that any person specified in the declaration may carry out such activities as are so specified, being activities that, in the opinion of the responsible authority, are necessary for, or ancillary to, or otherwise associated with the conduct of the major event, on such days during the major event period and during such hours as are so specified.
(2) The specification of a person or activity in a declaration may be by means of a class or description of persons or activities.
(3) A declaration may prohibit a person from causing, permitting or allowing the emission of noise from premises on which activities are carried out at a noise level which, when measured at any point outside the premises, exceeds a specified level. Such a prohibition may be enforced as if it were contained in a noise control notice issued under section 264 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.
(4) Before making a declaration, the responsible authority must consult with the Environment Protection Authority concerning the proposed terms of the declaration and must also take into consideration the noise impacts, or the likely noise impacts, of the activity or activities on residents.
(5) A declaration is to be published in the Gazette.
(6) A declaration takes effect on the day it is published in the Gazette or, if a later day is specified in the declaration for that purpose, on the later day so specified.
(7) A declaration has effect despite the terms of—
(c) any approval, consent, licence, permission or any other form of authorisation given or granted under any such Act or instrument, or
(d) any trust, estate, interest, dedication, reservation, condition, restriction or covenant affecting the land specified in the declaration.
(8) The responsible authority may amend or repeal a declaration in the same way as it may make a declaration.
58
Effect of declaration
58 Effect of declaration
58 Effect of declaration
(1) In this section, declaration means a declaration made under section 57.
(2) Except as provided by section 263 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, during the period for which a declaration has effect, the relevant responsible authority is, in relation to the emission of noise, the appropriate regulatory authority for the activities to which the declaration applies and the premises on which the activities are carried out.
(3) A prevention notice under section 96 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, or a noise control notice under section 264 of that Act, cannot be given to a person to prohibit the person from causing, permitting or allowing anything to be done that is authorised by a declaration.
(1) This section applies to land that is within 5 kilometres of any major event area.
(2) During the parking control period, a person must not use land to which this section applies for the purpose of a car park (whether or not for fee or reward) if the use of the land for that purpose by the person is not lawful under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units in the case of an individual and 250 penalty units in the case of a corporation and, in the case of a continuing offence by an individual or corporation, 20 penalty units for each day the offence continues.
(3) This section does not limit the operation of any other Act that enables proceedings to be taken in respect of the unlawful use of land.
(4) In this section, parking control period means the period specified by a Ministerial order for the purposes of this section.
(5) A Ministerial order for the purposes of the definition of parking control period in subsection (4) that extends a parking control period may be made before or during that period.
s 59: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[15]; 2024 No 76, Sch 4[16] [25].
60
Authorisations for section 51 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and Competition Code
60 Authorisations for section 51 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and Competition Code
(1) The regulations may specifically authorise agreements and conduct of the following kind for the purposes of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 of the Commonwealth and the Competition Code of New South Wales—
(a) any agreements entered into (whether before or after the commencement of the relevant regulation under this section) by the responsible authority, or by a person or body with the approval of the responsible authority, relating to or in connection with a major event,
(b) the conduct of the parties in entering into any such agreements,
(c) the conduct of the parties in performing any such agreements and any matter or thing done or omitted to be done by any of the parties in performing any such agreements.
(2) In this section, agreement includes a contract, arrangement or understanding.
s 60: Am 2018 No 68, Sch 2.23.
61
No liability in nuisance
61 No liability in nuisance
61 No liability in nuisance
Anything done or omitted to be done by any person—
(a) in the exercise of functions under this Act, the regulations or a Ministerial order (including functions which, by this Act, are taken to be functions under another Act or instrument), or
(b) pursuant to any of the provisions of this Act, the regulations or a Ministerial order (including provisions which, by this Act, are taken to be provisions of another Act or instrument),
does not constitute a nuisance.
s 61: Am 2024 No 76, Sch 4[26].
62
Compensation not payable in respect of major event-related matters
62 Compensation not payable in respect of major event-related matters
62 Compensation not payable in respect of major event-related matters
(1) Compensation is not payable by or on behalf of—
(a) the State or an authority of the State, or
(b) a local council, or
(c) an officer, employee or agent of the State, an authority of the State or a local council,
for an act or omission that is a major event-related matter or that arises (directly or indirectly) from a major event-related matter.
(2) Subsection (1)—
(a) applies only in respect of acts done or omitted to be done in good faith, and
(b) does not apply to acts or omissions that cause personal injury to a person or the death of a person.
(3) Subsection (1) does not affect compensation payable under any indemnity given, or other agreement made, by the promoter of the major event or a person referred to in subsection (1), that expressly relates to a major event-related matter.
(4) In this section—
compensation includes damages and any other form of monetary compensation.
major event-related matter means the following—
(a) the conduct or holding of any major event,
(b) works conducted or other things done under an authorisation given under this Act or the regulations,
(c) the administration or purported administration of this Act,
(d) the exercise or purported exercise of functions under this Act.
62A
Compensation not payable by promoter for economic loss
62A Compensation not payable by promoter for economic loss
62A Compensation not payable by promoter for economic loss
(1) Compensation is not payable by or on behalf of a protected person for economic loss arising because of an act done—
(a) in good faith, and
(b) for a major event-related matter.
(2) This section does not—
(a) apply to acts that cause—
(i) the death of a person, or
(ii) personal injury to a person, or
(iii) damage to property, or
(b) affect compensation payable by a protected person under an indemnity or other agreement.
(3) In this section—
act includes omission.
compensation includes damages and any other form of monetary compensation.
done includes omitted to be done.
major event-related matter means the following matters and includes anything arising from the matter—
(a) the conduct or holding of any major event,
(b) works or other things done under an authorisation given under this Act or the regulations.
protected person means—
(a) a promoter, or
(b) an employee or agent of a promoter.
s 62A: Ins 2022 No 12, Sch 1[29].
63
Civil proceedings to restrain breaches of this Act and certain agreements
63 Civil proceedings to restrain breaches of this Act and certain agreements
63 Civil proceedings to restrain breaches of this Act and certain agreements
(1) The responsible authority for a major event may bring proceedings in the Supreme Court for an order to remedy or restrain the following breaches, whether or not any right of the responsible authority has been or may be infringed by or as a consequence of that breach—
(a) a breach of this Act,
(b) a breach of an agreement, or class of agreements, prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section.
(2) If the Court is satisfied that a breach referred to in subsection (1) has been committed or that such a breach may, unless restrained by order of the Court, be committed, it may make such order as it thinks fit to remedy or restrain the breach.
(3) Without limiting the powers of the Court under subsection (2), an order made under that subsection may—
(a) where the breach relates to a use of any building, work or land—restrain that use, and
(b) where the breach is a breach of an agreement—specify actions that must be taken or actions that must cease or be refrained from.
(4) The functions of the Court under this section are in addition to and not in derogation from any other functions of the Court.
(5) Nothing in this section limits or otherwise affects other remedies that the responsible authority may have (apart from this section) in relation to a breach of an agreement.
(6) In this section—
(a) a reference to a breach of an agreement is a reference to—
(i) a contravention of or failure to comply with the agreement, and
(ii) a threatened or an apprehended contravention of or a threatened or apprehended failure to comply with the agreement, and
(b) a reference to a breach of this Act is a reference to—
(i) a contravention of or failure to comply with this Act, and
(ii) a threatened or an apprehended contravention of or a threatened or apprehended failure to comply with this Act, and
(c) a reference to this Act includes a reference to the regulations.
Part 5
Miscellaneous
Part 5 Miscellaneous
Part 5 Miscellaneous
64
Proceedings for offences
64 Proceedings for offences
64 Proceedings for offences
(1) Proceedings for an offence against a provision of this Act that is to be construed with, and as if it formed part of, another Act or an instrument may be dealt with under the other Act or the instrument as if the offence were an offence against a provision of that other Act or instrument.
(2) Proceedings for an offence against a provision of this Act that is not to be construed with, and as if it formed part of, another Act or an instrument, or against the regulations may be dealt with—
(a) summarily before the Local Court, or
(b) summarily before the Supreme Court in its summary jurisdiction.
(3) If proceedings for an offence to which subsection (2) applies are brought in the Local Court, the maximum penalty that the Court may impose in respect of the offence is, despite any other provision of this Act, 250 penalty units or the maximum penalty provided by this Act, whichever is the lesser.
(4) If proceedings for an offence to which subsection (2) applies are brought in the Supreme Court in its summary jurisdiction, the Supreme Court may impose a penalty not exceeding the maximum penalty provided by this Act in respect of the offence.
65
Effect of this Act on contracts, instruments and related matters
65 Effect of this Act on contracts, instruments and related matters
65 Effect of this Act on contracts, instruments and related matters
(1) The operation of this Act is not to be regarded as—
(a) a breach of contract or confidence or otherwise as a civil wrong, or
(b) a breach of any instrument, or
(c) an event of default under any contract or other instrument, or
(d) giving rise to any remedy by a party to a contract or other instrument, or as causing or permitting the termination of, or exercise of rights under, any contract or other instrument.
(2) Nothing in this section prevents—
(a) the responsible authority bringing proceedings under section 63 (Civil proceedings to restrain breaches of this Act and certain agreements), if that section applies, or
(b) a person taking such other action, or bringing such other proceedings, of a kind prescribed by the regulations.
(3) In this section, instrument does not include a statutory instrument.
66
Exclusion of personal liability
66 Exclusion of personal liability
66 Exclusion of personal liability
(1) Anything done or omitted to be done by—
(a) a chief executive of an authority or a person acting under the direction of a chief executive, or
(b) a member of a board of an authority or a person acting under the direction of such a board or a member of such a board, or
(c) a committee established by a board of an authority, a member of such a committee or a person acting under the direction of any such committee or member of a committee,
does not subject the chief executive, member of the board or of the committee, or person so acting, personally to any action, liability, claim or demand if the thing was done, or omitted to be done, in good faith for the purpose of administering this Act.
(2) In this section, authority means a responsible authority or a major event authority.
67
Delegation of Minister’s functions
67 Delegation of Minister’s functions
67 Delegation of Minister’s functions
(1) The Minister may delegate to an authorised person any function of the Minister conferred or imposed by or under this Act, other than this power of delegation.
(2) A delegate may sub-delegate to an authorised person any function delegated by the Minister if the delegate is authorised in writing to do so by the Minister.
(3) In this section, authorised person means—
(a) a responsible authority, or
(b) a member of staff of a responsible authority, or
(c) a government agency or member of staff of a government agency, or
(d) a person, a person of a class, or committee of persons, approved by the Minister or prescribed by the regulations.
(4) The procedure for the calling of meetings of a committee of persons (as referred to in subsection (3) (d)) and for the conduct of business at those meetings is to be as determined by the Minister or (subject to any determination of the Minister) by the committee.
68
Delegation of responsible authority’s functions
68 Delegation of responsible authority’s functions
68 Delegation of responsible authority’s functions
(1) A responsible authority may delegate to an authorised person any function conferred or imposed on the responsible authority by or under this Act, other than this power of delegation.
(2) A delegate may sub-delegate to an authorised person any function delegated by the responsible authority if the delegate is authorised in writing to do so by the responsible authority.
(3) In this section, authorised person means—
(a) a member of staff of the responsible authority, or
(b) a government agency or member of staff of a government agency, or
(c) a member of the NSW Police Force, or
(d) a person, or committee of persons, of a class approved by the Minister or prescribed by the regulations.
(3A) A delegation, or sub-delegation, to an authorised person referred to in subsection (3)(d)—
(a) must be limited to a specified major event, and
(b) must not apply to a key regulatory function.
(4) The procedure for the calling of meetings of a committee of persons (as referred to in subsection (3) (d)) and for the conduct of business at those meetings is to be as determined by the Minister or (subject to any determination of the Minister) by the committee.
(5) In this section—
key regulatory function means a function prescribed by the regulations as a key regulatory function.
s 68: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[30] [31].
69
Recovery of fees and charges
69 Recovery of fees and charges
69 Recovery of fees and charges
Any charge, fee or money due to a responsible authority under this Act is recoverable by the responsible authority in a court of competent jurisdiction as a debt due to the Crown.
69A
Authorisation of authorised officers
69A Authorisation of authorised officers
69A Authorisation of authorised officers
(1) The responsible authority for a major event may authorise a person mentioned in subsection (2) to be an authorised officer for the major event.
(2) An authorised officer may be—
(a) a police officer, or
(b) an officer or employee of a government agency, or
(c) a person, or a member of a class of persons, prescribed by the regulations.
(3) The responsible authority may limit the functions that may be exercised by an authorised officer, including by reference to specified provisions of this Act.
s 69A: Ins 2022 No 12, Sch 1[32].
70
Identification cards
70 Identification cards
70 Identification cards
(1) A responsible authority is to provide each authorised officer authorised under this Act by the responsible authority who is not a police officer with an identification card.
(2) An identification card is a card that—
(a) states that it is issued under this Act, and
(b) gives the name of the person to whom it is issued, and
(c) describes the nature of the powers conferred, and
(d) states the date (if any) on which it expires, and
(e) is signed by a delegate of the responsible authority.
(3) In the course of exercising the functions of an authorised officer under this Act, the authorised officer must, if requested to do so by a person affected by the exercise of any such function, produce the officer’s identification card to the person.
Note—
See Part 15 of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 in relation to a police officer’s obligation to produce evidence that the police officer is a police officer (unless the police officer is in uniform).
s 70: Am 2014 No 31, Sch 5.8 [2].
71
Enforcement
71 Enforcement
71 Enforcement
For the avoidance of doubt it is declared that, if, by this Act, any provisions of this Act are to be construed with, and as if they formed part of, any other Act or statutory instrument, those provisions may be enforced in accordance with the provisions for the enforcement of those Acts or statutory instruments.
72
Regulations
72 Regulations
72 Regulations
(1) The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, for or with respect to any matter that by this Act is required or permitted to be prescribed or that is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.
(2) In particular, regulations may be made for or with respect to the following—
(a) the fees and charges that may be imposed for the purposes of this Act,
(b) regulating the use by the public of, and the conduct of the public in, a major event area,
(c) regulating, restricting or prohibiting the bringing of liquor into, or consumption of liquor within, a major event area during a major event period,
(d) regulating the provision of services by responsible authorities,
(e) requirements or guidelines for the preparation of road and transport plans by responsible authorities,
(f) conferring on a responsible authority any function that may be exercised by a local council in relation to a public place,
(g) requiring the payment of fares or other charges for the use of any facility operated or service provided by a responsible authority or a government agency for the purposes of this Act.
(3) The regulations may create an offence punishable by a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units.
s 72: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[15] [33].
73
Penalty notices
73 Penalty notices
73 Penalty notices
(1) An authorised officer may issue a penalty notice to a person if it appears to the officer that the person has committed a penalty notice offence.
(2) A penalty notice offence is an offence against this Act or the regulations that is prescribed by the regulations as a penalty notice offence.
(3) The Fines Act 1996 applies to a penalty notice issued under this section.
Note—
The Fines Act 1996 provides that, if a person issued with a penalty notice does not wish to have the matter determined by a court, the person may pay the amount specified in the notice and is not liable to any further proceedings for the alleged offence.
(4) The amount payable under a penalty notice issued under this section is the amount prescribed for the alleged offence by the regulations (not exceeding the maximum amount of penalty that could be imposed for the offence by a court).
(5) This section does not limit the operation of any other provision of, or made under, this or any other Act relating to proceedings that may be taken in respect of offences.
(6) (Repealed)
s 73: Subst 2017 No 22, Sch 3.44. Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[14].
74
Offences by corporations
74 Offences by corporations
74 Offences by corporations
(1) If a corporation contravenes, whether by act or omission, any provision of this Act or the regulations, each person who is a director of the corporation or who is concerned in the management of the corporation is taken to have contravened the same provision if the person knowingly authorised or permitted the contravention.
(2) A person may be proceeded against and convicted under a provision pursuant to subsection (1) whether or not the corporation has been proceeded against or has been convicted under the provision.
(3) Nothing in this section affects any liability imposed on a corporation for an offence committed by the corporation under this Act or the regulations.
75
Review of Act
75 Review of Act
75 Review of Act
(1) The Minister is to review this Act to determine whether the policy objectives of the Act remain valid and whether the terms of the Act remain appropriate for securing those objectives.
(2) The review is to be undertaken as soon as possible after the period of 5 years from the date of assent to this Act.
(3) A report on the outcome of the review is to be tabled in each House of Parliament within 12 months after the end of the period of 5 years.
Schedule 1
Constitution and procedure of board governed major event authorities
Schedule 1 Constitution and procedure of board governed major event authorities
Schedule 1 Constitution and procedure of board governed major event authorities
(Section 10 (5))
sch 1: Am 2014 No 33, Sch 3.19 [3]; 2022 No 12, Sch 1[34]–[36].
Schedule 2
Dissolutions, amalgamations and changes of name or nature of governance of major event authorities
Schedule 2 Dissolutions, amalgamations and changes of name or nature of governance of major event authorities
Schedule 2 Dissolutions, amalgamations and changes of name or nature of governance of major event authorities
(Section 12 (2))
sch 2: Am 2014 No 33, Sch 3.19 [4].
Schedule 3
Savings, transitional and other provisions
Schedule 3 Savings, transitional and other provisions
Schedule 3 Savings, transitional and other provisions
sch 3: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[37].
Schedule 4
Schedule 4
Schedule 4 (Repealed)
sch 4: Rep 1987 No 15, sec 30C.
Source text: opening excerpt
Sourced from legislation.nsw.gov.au, CC BY 4.0.
Part 1 Preliminary
Part 1 Preliminary
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Act
1 Name of Act
1 Name of Act
This Act is the Major Events Act 2009.
2 Commencement
2 Commencement
2 Commencement
This Act commences on the date of assent to this Act.
3 Objects of Act
3 Objects of Act
3 Objects of Act
The objects of this Act are as follows—
(a) to attract, support and facilitate the holding and conduct of major events in New South Wales, in particular, events that are anticipated to have a significant number of participants or spectators (whether of a sporting, cultural or other nature),
(b) to increase the benefits flowing from major events to the people of New South Wales,
(c) to promote the safety and enjoyment of participants and spectators at major events,
(d) to prevent unauthorised commercial exploitation of major events at the expense of event organisers and sponsors,
(e) to enable authorities that are to manage, co-ordinate or regulate major events to be established or designated by regulation,
(f) to make provision for the following matters in relation to major events—
(i) traffic control and the co-ordination of transport and parking,
(ii) the regulation of commercial exploitation of the events, including the prevention of ambush marketing and unauthorised use of official titles and insignia,
(iii) safety and crowd management,
(g) to ensure that government agencies are authorised to facilitate and support the holding and conduct of major events.
s 3: Am 2024 No 76, Sch 4[1].
4 Definitions
4 Definitions
4 Definitions
(1) In this Act—
authorised officer, for a major event, means a person authorised under section 69A to be an authorised officer for the major event.
The Act places many operational details in regulations and Ministerial orders. Notably, most Part 4 powers (other than s 38 on airspace) apply only if a Ministerial order and/or regulation declares them operative for a particular major event (s 13). That structure centralises event-specific scope and timing in executive instruments while conferring broad statutory powers to responsible authorities and government agencies to implement traffic, crowd, commercial and advertising controls during declared major event periods.
The Act also contains clauses that alter the interaction with other statutory regimes where necessary to enable event management: the major event subdivision is to be construed as if it forms part of the Road Transport Act 2013 and, in the event of inconsistency, prevails to the extent of the inconsistency (ss 21-22). Similarly the Act provides for exemptions or overriding effect concerning planning (s 50), environment (ss 57-58) and local government approvals (ss 52-55), where declarations and approvals under the Act apply.
Finally, the Act creates allocation rules around governance, delegations and indemnities that affect who decides, who pays and who bears residual legal risk: the Minister can direct agencies (s 16), Premier may cancel or vary Ministerial orders in specified public interest or safety circumstances (s 4C), and compensation is narrowly excluded in many major event-related matters (ss 61-62A).
Main concepts
Definitions and scope: The Act’s operative definitions are concentrated in s 4. A "major event" is an event declared under Part 2 (s 5). The Act defines "major event area", "major event period", "promoter", "responsible authority", "major event authority", "transport area" and other operational terms that trigger specific powers and duties across Parts 3 and 4 (s 4). The "State" includes the Crown and government, but the NSW Police Force is excluded from the definition of "government agency" (s 4(1)).
Ministerial orders and regulations as gating instruments: The Act is deliberately modular. A major event is declared by regulation (s 5). The Minister may specify event-by-event particulars by order in the Gazette (s 5A). Section 13 makes clear that most Part 4 powers do not apply to a particular event unless the Ministerial order activates them. This two-step process gives the executive the means to calibrate the Act’s powers to the circumstances of each declared event.
Responsible authority and major event authorities: A regulation must designate a responsible authority for each major event, which may be a major event authority, another government agency, or a public official (s 6). Regulations can establish corporations as major event authorities for specified events (s 8), including whether the authority is board-governed or chief-executive governed (s 8(2)). Management and control of those authorities are set out in ss 9-11 and Schedule 1.
Coordination of government agencies: The Act imposes cooperation obligations on government agencies to assist responsible authorities (s 14). It also authorises agencies to exercise their functions to comply with directions (s 15). The Minister can give written directions to prescribed agencies to comply with a responsible authority’s requests (s 16). For disputes between agencies and responsible authorities, there is a ministerial review and escalation path to the Premier (s 18).
Transport and traffic management: The Act allows the Minister to declare transport areas (s 19), authorises responsible authorities to direct government agencies as to transport functions within transport areas (s 20), and imports the major event lane system into the road transport legislative regime (ss 21-25). TfNSW has a specific role: it must consent to traffic management plans and may close roads at the direction of the responsible authority (ss 26-27). Road closure public-notification rules apply (ss 26(3), 27(9)), but short closures of up to seven days may be made without public notice (s 28). Removal and towing powers for unattended vehicles are delegated to responsible authorities and tied to provisions of the Road Transport Act 2013 (ss 32-35).
Commercial, advertising and airspace controls: Ministerial orders can define "controlled areas", "sales control periods" and prescribed articles (s 5A, s 37). Within controlled areas, sales or distribution of prescribed articles during the sales control period are prohibited without responsible authority approval (s 37). Advertising-controlled sites and advertising-controlled airspace are established by Ministerial order (ss 39-40). The responsible authority has power to require removal or obliteration of advertising on buildings in advertising-controlled sites, and authorised persons may enter to do so (s 39). The Act also applies to aerial advertising within State air navigation where Commonwealth permissions are required (s 38). New provisions inserted by amendment include specific controls on digital billboard vehicles in advertising-controlled sites (s 39A).
Crowd, safety and entry controls: The responsible authority has a range of crowd-management powers: limit numbers, ban categories of people, close areas, charge admission, deny entry for prohibited items or intoxication, exclude vehicles and regulate their entry, and erect signs and give directions to enforce these controls (s 43). Authorised officers can require searches as conditions of entry and exclude persons who refuse (s 45). Authorised officers also have powers to direct persons to leave and to remove non-compliant persons by reasonable force (s 46). The Act defines "prohibited thing" (s 43(7)) and allows responsible authorities to ban persons for up to six months (s 48).
Overrides and interaction with other statutory regimes: The Act contains express saving or override clauses to make event management easier: s 50 treats major event activity as exempt development under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 where the Minister has given written approval; s 57 enables declarations that permit activities notwithstanding Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 and related instruments, subject to consultation with the EPA; s 52-55 set out how the Act operates alongside the Local Government Act. The Act also provides that specific Subdivisions are to be construed as part of the Road Transport Act and prevail to the extent of inconsistency (ss 21-22).
Liability and compensation: The Act removes liability in nuisance for acts done under the Act (s 61). Compensation is not payable by State authorities, local councils, or their officers for major event-related matters done in good faith, except for personal injury or death (s 62). Section 62A provides that promoters and their employees or agents are protected from compensation claims for economic loss arising from acts done in good faith for major event-related matters, again with the same exceptions.
Delegation, authorisation and enforcement architecture: The Minister and responsible authorities may delegate many functions (ss 67-68) but delegations to prescribed classes must be event-limited and may not cover "key regulatory functions" where so prescribed (s 68(3A)). Responsible authorities may authorise persons as authorised officers (s 69A). Penalty notices and offence procedures are provided (s 73; Pt 5). The Act allows the responsible authority to seek civil remedies in the Supreme Court to restrain breaches (s 63).
Taken together, these concepts make the Act both a toolbox for centralised event management and a mechanism to prioritise event operation over ordinary regulatory constraints where a major event is declared and the necessary Ministerial orders/regulations are put in place.
Who it affects
The Act touches a broad set of public and private actors. Below are the principal categories and the concrete statutory consequences for each class.
Promoters and protected persons: The Act contemplates a named promoter for each major event (s 5A(1)(c)). Promoters (and their employees and agents) are "protected persons" for certain indemnity purposes: s 62A prevents compensation claims for economic loss against a promoter or the promoter’s employees or agents arising from acts done in good faith for major event-related matters, except for injury, death or damage to property (s 62A(1)-(2)). Promoters can be the responsible authority if the Ministerial order so provides (s 5A(2)). Promoters therefore gain potent managerial rights but limited compensation exposure for economic loss in many circumstances.
Responsible authorities and major event authorities: A responsible authority is the person or body designated in the regulation as the responsible authority for a major event (s 4). A major event authority may be a regulation-established corporation (s 8) and is a NSW Government agency (s 8(3)). Responsible authorities exercise the on-the-ground powers in Part 4: traffic management, crowd and entry controls, advertising and sales controls, environmental declarations and enforcement. They can appoint advisory committees (s 7), authorise officers (s 69A), issue permits (s 25), and pursue civil remedies in the Supreme Court (s 63). They also may delegate functions (s 68).
Government agencies, including TfNSW and local councils: The Act requires government agencies to cooperate with responsible authorities, comply with reasonable information requests, adhere to road and transport plans when notified, provide resources as authorised, and to give notice of potentially conflicting exercises of the agency’s functions (s 14). TfNSW is specifically referenced with duties and powers: major event lane signage, consent to traffic management plans (s 27(6)), ability to close roads at the direction of the responsible authority (s 26(2)), publication obligations for road closure notices (ss 26(3), 27(9)) and declaration publication (s 34). Local councils are treated as government agencies under s 4 and the Act modifies local government approvals and community land use for major events (ss 52-55, 54).
Police and authorised officers: The NSW Police Force is treated distinctly, excluded from "government agency" in s 4(1). Police are included among persons who may be authorised officers (s 69A(2)(a)), and police powers are incorporated into enforcement mechanisms (e.g., s 25 permits may be inspected and confiscated by a police officer). The Premier may act on advice from certain "relevant persons" such as the Commissioner of Police to cancel or vary Ministerial orders without consulting the promoter (s 4C).
Businesses, advertisers and sponsors: Commercial actors are directly affected by the sales control, advertising, and official insignia rules. Owners, occupiers and leaseholders of buildings in advertising-controlled sites must not display advertising material while the site is controlled unless authorised by the responsible authority; authorised persons may cover or remove advertising (s 39). A person must not use an official title or official insignia of a major event for a commercial purpose without written consent (s 42). The Act also permits the responsible authority to authorise classes of persons and to impose conditions including payments (s 42(2)).
Vendors, buskers, charities and small-scale commercial operators: The sales control regime (s 37) and the commercial activity prohibition within major event areas (s 41) prohibit selling or distributing prescribed articles, providing services for reward, busking, undertaking charitable collection or similar activities within a major event area unless authorised. This directly affects street traders, market operators, fundraisers and buskers who rely on pedestrian flows near event venues.
Landowners and operators of parking and temporary car parks: Section 59 makes it an offence during a Ministerial parking control period to use land within 5 km of a major event area as a car park if that use is not lawful under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. That affects landowners who might otherwise create ad hoc parking for event patrons.
Aerial operators, drone operators and aircraft operators: Section 38 prohibits causing an aircraft to enter controlled airspace or restricted areas over a major event area during a major event unless permitted by relevant Commonwealth law, and imposes a substantial maximum penalty (2,000 penalty units). Section 40 also forbids advertising in advertising-controlled airspace without responsible authority approval, with a maximum penalty of 2,000 penalty units; definitions encompass drones and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Residents and property owners: The Act empowers authorised persons to enter advertising-controlled sites and adjacent premises to remove advertising material (s 39(6)). It contains a narrow protection for residential parts of premises, which cannot be entered under that power without occupier consent (s 39(7)). Residents and businesses may also face road closures, traffic changes and short-term access limitations under the transport provisions (ss 26-29, 31).
Third parties to contracts and statutory instrument holders: The Act contains provisions that treats acts under the Act as not constituting a breach of contract, giving rise to remedies, default events or termination of contracts (s 65(1)). Further, Schedule 2 transfers rights, assets and liabilities on dissolution or amalgamation of major event authorities (Sch 2, Pt 2).
In short, the Act distributes decision-making and operational authority primarily to responsible authorities and the executive (Minister and Premier), while imposing compliance duties on government agencies, advertisers, vendors, transport operators, landowners and members of the public within declared areas. The statutory network of authorisations, prohibitions and indemnities reshapes the regulatory position of these actors during defined major event periods.
Key duties and rights
This section organises the Act’s operational obligations and entitlements into actionable items for the principal actors.
Duties of government agencies and coordination obligations
Co-operation and assistance: Government agencies must co-operate with the responsible authority, comply with reasonable information requests, comply with the responsible authority’s road and transport plan when notified, provide resources and assistance if requested and authorised by the Act, and notify the responsible authority of proposed exercises of functions that may adversely affect the responsible authority’s functions (s 14).
Power to comply: Despite any other law, a government agency is authorised to exercise its functions to comply with a responsible authority’s request or decision and may enter into agreements to implement this Act (s 15).
Ministerial direction: The Minister may direct prescribed government agencies to comply with a responsible authority’s requests, by written notice (s 16). "Prescribed" agencies are set by regulation (s 16(2)).
Powers and duties of responsible authorities and major event authorities
Direction, management and delegation: Responsible authorities prepare road and transport plans, traffic management plans and may direct government agencies and TfNSW in transport areas (ss 19-20, 27). They can appoint advisory committees (s 7), authorise officers (s 69A), and delegate functions (s 68), subject to restrictions on delegations to classes and on key regulatory functions (s 68(3A)-(5)).
Crowd and entry control: Responsible authorities may limit or prohibit entry, restrict classes of persons, charge admission, refuse vehicles, impose search conditions as a condition of entry (s 43, s 45), and give directions to remove persons or require production of tickets/permits (s 46). They can ban individuals for up to 6 months (s 48).
Commercial and advertising regulation: Responsible authorities regulate the sale and distribution of prescribed articles in controlled areas during sales control periods (s 37). They may prescribe advertising-controlled sites and advertising-controlled airspace, authorise or prohibit aerial advertising, and require removal or obliteration of unauthorised advertising on buildings within advertising-controlled sites (ss 39-40). They control use of official titles and insignia (s 42).
Traffic and parking controls: Responsible authorities prepare traffic management plans and can close roads in accordance with those plans (s 27), declare tow-away or special-event clearway areas and invoke vehicle removal under ss 32-35. They may issue major event lane permits (s 25) and require TfNSW to close roads in declared transport areas (s 26).
Environmental and planning powers: Responsible authorities may make declarations under s 57 that permit activities that would otherwise be inconsistent with the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997; such declarations must be published in the Gazette and the responsible authority is required to consult the EPA before making them (s 57(4)-(6)). Major event activities can be treated as exempt development under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 when the responsible authority has obtained the Minister’s written approval (s 50(1)).
Rights and remedies
Supreme Court remedies: The responsible authority may seek interlocutory and final orders in the Supreme Court to remedy or restrain breaches of the Act or prescribed agreements (s 63). The Court may restrain use of land or require specific performance-like orders (s 63(2)-(3)).
Permits and approvals: Individuals and classes of persons can apply for approvals to sell prescribed articles (s 37(2)-(3), (8)), for the use of official insignia (s 42), for advertising in advertising-controlled airspace (s 40(3)-(6)) and for other authorisations under the Act.
Penalty notices and summary proceedings: Penalty notices may be issued for designated offences under the regulations and are governed by the Fines Act 1996 (s 73). Many offences can be dealt with summarily in the Local Court or the Supreme Court in its summary jurisdiction, with specified maximums (s 64).
Limits and protections
Compensation and liability carve-outs: Actions done in the exercise of functions under the Act do not constitute a nuisance (s 61). Compensation is not payable by the State, local councils or their officers for major event-related matters done in good faith, except for personal injury or death (s 62(1)-(2)). Section 62A extends protection to promoters and their employees for economic loss arising from good faith acts for major event-related matters, again subject to exceptions for death, personal injury, or damage to property (s 62A).
Procedural limits on powers: Road closure powers have statutory notice requirements (ss 26(3), 27(9)). Traffic management plans require TfNSW consent and consultation (s 27(6)). Section 13 limits application of many Part 4 provisions to events where the Ministerial order activates them.
Authorisations, identity and enforcement
Authorised officers and identification: Responsible authorities may authorise police officers, officers or employees of government agencies and other prescribed persons to be authorised officers for major events (s 69A). The responsible authority must issue identification cards to authorised officers who are not police officers and those cards must describe the powers conferred (s 70).
Enforcement powers: Authorised officers may give directions, confiscate and seize permits and prescribed articles, direct removal of people or vehicles, and exercise other powers described in the Act (e.g. s 25(3), s 30, s 37(3)-(5), s 46(6)-(7)).
Procedural safeguards and appeal avenues
Forfeiture and Local Court appeal: Where prescribed articles are forfeited to the Crown for failure to obey removal directions under s 37, the person may appeal to the Local Court within 21 days (s 37(5)-(7)).
Delegation limits: Delegations to persons or committees of a class must be event-limited and cannot apply to key regulatory functions as prescribed (s 68(3A)). The Minister may delegate many functions but not the power of delegation itself (s 67).
These duties and rights allocate operational authority to responsible authorities and executive actors while imposing binding obligations on government agencies and constraints on commercial activity within declared areas. The Act embeds administrative and judicial remedies for enforcement and for judicial restraint of breaches.
Penalties and enforcement
The Act sets a mixture of criminal offences, penalty notice offences and civil enforcement options. The enforcement architecture relies on authorised officers, police, TfNSW and responsible authorities, supported by statutory penalties, seizure/forfeiture powers and access to court remedies.
Principal criminal and regulatory penalties (selected)
Major event lane driving: Driving inmajor event lane contrary to s 24(1) attracts a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units. A person riding a bicycle is expressly permitted to ride in a major event lane (s 24(2)).
Major event lane permits: Failure to comply with police direction concerning display/removal of a major event lane permit is an offence with a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units (s 25(4)).
Road closure contraventions: Contravening signs or barriers that close roads can attract maximum penalties of 30 penalty units for driving onto a closed road, failure to remove vehicles, entering closed roads to pedestrians, and damaging or interfering with closure signs or barriers (s 30(1)-(5)).
Control of sale and distribution: Selling or distributing a prescribed article during a sales control period in a controlled area without approval is punishable by up to 50 penalty units (s 37(2)). Failing to comply with an authorised officer’s removal direction under s 37(3) also attracts a 50 penalty unit maximum (s 37(4)). Forfeiture and seizure powers apply (s 37(5)-(6)).
Advertising on buildings and structures: Owners/occupiers who permit unauthorised advertising on advertising-controlled sites face maximum penalties of 250 penalty units for individuals and 500 penalty units for corporations (s 39(4)). Persons authorised may cover or remove advertising and enter premises for that purpose (s 39(5)-(6)), subject to residential protections (s 39(7)) and duties to minimise damage (s 39(8)).
Digital billboard vehicles: Using or allowing use of a digital billboard vehicle within an advertising-controlled site without permission is penalised up to 250 units for individuals, 500 for corporations (s 39A(2)).
Aerial advertising: Displaying advertising in prescribed advertising-controlled airspace without approval carries a maximum penalty of 2,000 penalty units (s 40(2)). The definition of "advertisement" is broad and includes banners, skywriting and advertising by drones (s 40(7)).
Commercial activities in major event areas: Various unauthorised commercial acts within a major event area (selling, operating audio/commercial filming, busking, collecting money or charitable activities) attract a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units (s 41(1)).
Use of official title or insignia: Using official titles or insignia for commercial purposes without written consent is punishable by up to 200 penalty units (s 42(1)).
Personal conduct and failure to obey directions: Disorderly or offensive conduct within a major event area may attract up to 10 penalty units (s 44(1)). Failure to comply with directions to leave or other directions under s 46(5) is an offence with maximum 50 penalty units.
Illegal car parks: Using land for a car park within 5 km of a major event area unlawfully during a parking control period attracts 50 penalty units for an individual and 250 for a corporation, with continuing offences attracting daily penalties (s 59(2)).
Enforcement instruments and procedures
Authorised officers and police: Enforcement is carried out by authorised officers appointed by responsible authorities (s 69A) and police officers acting under general police powers. Authorised officers who are not police must carry identification cards issued by the responsible authority and produce them on request (s 70).
Seizure and forfeiture: Authorised officers may seize forfeited articles under s 37(5). Major event lane permits may be confiscated if suspected counterfeit or misused (s 25(3)(d)).
Penalty notices: The Act provides for penalty notices under the road transport legislation for relevant Subdivision offences (s 36) and permits authorised officers to issue penalty notices for prescribed penalty notice offences under regulations, with amounts governed by the Fines Act 1996 (s 73).
Civil remedies: The responsible authority has an express statutory right to bring proceedings in the Supreme Court to restrain or remedy breaches of the Act or prescribed agreements and the Court may make injury-preventing or remedial orders including restraining uses of land (s 63).
Administrative remedies and appeals: Forfeiture decisions under s 37 may be appealed to the Local Court within 21 days (s 37(6)-(7)). The Act's penalty notice regime also allows payment to avoid prosecution under Fines Act procedures (s 73(3)-(4)).
Cross-enforcement and machinery: Where provisions of this Act are to be construed as part of other Acts or instruments, enforcement may be pursued under those other regimes as if the Act’s offence were an offence under that regime (s 64(1), s 71).
Immunity and compensation rules affecting enforcement risk
Exclusion of nuisance liability: Anything done or omitted in the exercise of functions under this Act does not amount to a nuisance (s 61).
No compensation for many acts: Compensation is generally not payable by the State, local councils or their officers for major event-related matters done in good faith, apart from personal injury or death (s 62). Promoters and their employees/agents are also protected from compensation for economic loss in specified circumstances (s 62A). These provisions constrain judicial remedies against public actors and promoters for many forms of economic loss and nuisance.
Corporate and supervisory liability
Corporate directors and managers can be held to have contravened corporate offences if they knowingly authorised or permitted a contravention by the corporation (s 74(1)-(2)). Responsible authorities can recover charges and fees as debts (s 69).
Administrative constraints and safeguards
Notice and consultation requirements tied to certain powers: TfNSW closures require public notice at least 3 days before closure on the TfNSW website (ss 26(3), 27(9)); traffic management plans must be prepared in consultation with TfNSW and not take effect until TfNSW consents in writing (s 27(6)).
Limits on entry powers: Entry to residential parts of premises for advertising removal requires occupier consent (s 39(7)); searches at entry are a condition of admission but refusal leads to exclusion rather than automatic arrest (s 45; note the Act clarifies refusal is not an offence but can result in exclusion).
Taken together, the Act confers strong enforcement powers on responsible authorities supported by civil remedies and a penalty regime, while also insulating public authorities and promoters in many circumstances from compensation claims. Procedural and statutory safeguards appear in notice, consultation, appeal and residential privacy provisions.
How it interacts with other laws
The Act is expressly designed to operate alongside and, in specified respects, to override or be integrated with other NSW and Commonwealth legislation. The statutory text contains numerous cross-references and precedence rules which practitioners must note when advising clients or structuring events.
Road transport and road rules
Part of the Act’s road and lane regime is to be construed with and as if it formed part of the Road Transport Act 2013 (ss 21-22). The Act further provides that in the event of inconsistency between its Subdivision and the road transport legislation, the Major Events Act’s provisions prevail to the extent of the inconsistency (s 22(3)). Additionally, Part 15 of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 does not apply to the exercise of powers conferred by this Subdivision (s 22(5)). Major event lane signs are declared to be prescribed traffic control devices for the purposes of Part 5.3 of the Road Transport Act (s 23(3)) and enforcement mechanisms reference penalty notices under road transport legislation (s 36).
Environmental planning and approvals
Major event activities may be treated as exempt development for the purposes of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 where the responsible authority has the Minister’s written approval and the activity is carried out in accordance with that approval (s 50(1)). This converts certain development approvals into event-sanctioned activities and removes the usual development approval requirement in those cases.
Protection of the Environment Operations Act and EPA functions
The responsible authority may make a declaration authorising activities that would otherwise conflict with the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997; such a declaration overrides specified instruments and approvals (s 57(7)). Before making such a declaration, the responsible authority must consult with the Environment Protection Authority about the proposed terms and take noise impacts into account (s 57(4)). Once in effect, the responsible authority becomes the appropriate regulatory authority in relation to noise for the activities specified (s 58(2)), and certain notices or directions under the Protection Act cannot be given in respect of activities authorised by the declaration (s 58(3)-(5)).
Local government law
The Act is to be construed with and as part of the Local Government Act 1993 (s 52). It permits deviations from local approvals and plans of management for community land where the local council approves event uses (s 54). Local council employees authorised under the Local Government Act who exercise functions during major events for another council are taken to be authorised by that other council for the Local Government Act’s purposes (s 55). The Act also protects persons acting under this Act from breaching approvals issued under the Local Government Act where actions are reasonably necessary for the purposes of the Major Events Act (s 53).
Commonwealth aviation law and air navigation
Section 38 interacts with Commonwealth aviation law: it references the Commonwealth Air Navigation Regulations and Airspace Regulations and defines "State air navigation" as air navigation within NSW to which Commonwealth Air Navigation Regulations are applied as if they were State law by the Air Navigation Act 1938 (s 38(1)). Section 38(2) makes it an offence during a major event to cause an aircraft to enter controlled airspace or restricted areas over a major event area in State air navigation unless permitted under Commonwealth law, imposing a maximum penalty of 2,000 penalty units. The section also provides that its provisions prevail to the extent of inconsistency between s 38 and the Commonwealth Air Navigation Regulations as applied to State air navigation (s 38(3)). There are carve-outs for military, police and emergency-purpose flights (s 38(4)).
Competition and consumer law
The regulations may specifically authorise agreements and conduct for the purposes of s 51 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and the NSW Competition Code. This allows the responsible authority or approved persons to enter into agreements that would otherwise raise competition concerns and have those agreements authorised by regulation (s 60).
Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002
The Act imports the definition of "public place" from the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (s 4), but makes clear that Part 15 of that Act does not apply to powers conferred by the Major Events Act’s road transport Subdivision (s 22(5)). Police retain their status and operational role under the Police Act and other Commonwealth/state instruments, and the Commissioner of Police is a "relevant person" whose advice can trigger Premier action to cancel or vary Ministerial orders (s 4C).
Security Industry Act and other exemptions
The Act expressly provides that the Security Industry Act 1997 does not apply to or in respect of persons carrying out functions under s 17 (assisting responsible authorities with crowd management and traffic control) (s 17(4)). That is an example of the Act creating temporary administrative exemptions to ordinary licensing regimes, subject to other constraints, for event facilitation.
Contract and statutory instrument consequences
Section 65 states that operation of the Act is not to be regarded as breach of contract, breach of confidence, event of default or a ground for remedies by counterparty merely by virtue of the Act, and provides for responsible authority proceedings under s 63. Schedule 2 provides a statutory scheme for transfers of assets, rights and liabilities on dissolution or amalgamation of major event authorities (Sch 2, Pt 2).
Precedence and construction rules
Multiple provisions state that where this Act is to be construed with another Act, in the event of inconsistency the Major Events Act prevails to the extent of the inconsistency (e.g. s 22(3), s 52(3), s 56(3)). This elevates the Act as the controlling regime for many event-specific regulatory conflicts, provided the Act’s provisions have been triggered by the appropriate Ministerial or regulatory instrument.
Taken together, these interaction clauses mean that, once the executive activates the Act’s event-specific provisions by regulation and Ministerial order, the Major Events Act can temporarily displace, integrate with, or override normal regulatory settings across planning, environment, local government, roads and aviation. Practitioners must therefore map which powers have been invoked for a given event and trace the resulting legal priority chain across the relevant complementary regimes.
Amendment history
The Act in the provided text carries multiple amendment annotations. The instrument has been updated periodically; the annotations in the text indicate the following amendments (as recorded in the Act’s marginal notes):
2010 No 84, Sch 2.7: Amendment referenced in s 6 (designation of responsible authority).
2011 No 41, Sch 5.20: Appears in various sections affecting road closures and amendments to traffic closure powers (e.g. ss 26-29, 29, 30, 31, 32), and amendments to definitions (s 4).
2013 No 19, Sch 4.40: Affected several road/transport provisions and integration with the Road Transport Act; referenced in ss 21-25, 32-35 and elsewhere.
2014 No 33, Sch 3.19: Changes reflected in governance provisions (s 11) and Schedule 1.
2014 (762), Sch 1: Several small amendments in transport lane provisions.
2017 No 22, Sch 3.44: Substituted s 73 (penalty notices).
2018 No 68, Sch 2.23: Added s 60 (authorisations for agreements for competition law purposes).
2020 No 30, Sch 4.39: Amended to update TfNSW closure provisions and other transport provisions (ss 26-28, 29, 30, 34).
2022 No 12, Sch 1: A substantial package of insertions and substitutions: new sections and amendments added, including s 4A (exclusion for Motor Sports Events Act 2022), s 4B (declaration of major event area), s 5 amendments, s 21, s 22, and additions such as ss 37, 38, 39, 43, 46, 48, 50, 52-56, 62A, 63, 68 and Schedule amendments. Many of these are annotated as Ins (inserted) or Subst (substituted).
2022 No 14, Sch 8.16 and other small consequential amendments referenced in s 6 notes.
2024 No 76, Sch 4: Recent amendments scattered through the Act including updates at s 3 (objects), s 4 definitions, s 4B, s 4C (Premier’s cancellation/varying power), s 5, s 13 substitution, s 13A insertion, s 26, 27, 28, s 29 notes, and multiple others including the insertion of s 39A (digital billboard vehicles) and changes to delegations and immunity (s 61, s 62). The 2024 amendments are cited frequently in the marginal notes for operational sections.
The Act also displays a pattern of adding event-specific or technology-specific controls over time: for example, a discrete provision for digital billboard vehicles was inserted as s 39A in 2024 (Sch 4[18]) and earlier aviation and advertising controls were inserted in 2022. The marginal notes show repeated amendments to integrate with evolving road transport legislation and to add governance refinements.
Regulations and Ministerial orders are instrumentally important for application of many powers (s 5, s 5A, s 13) and the Act grants the Governor power to make regulations for matters necessary to carry out the Act (s 72). The Act’s design anticipates rule-making and often leaves detail such as prescribed articles, fees, classes of authorised persons, key regulatory functions, prescribed government agencies, and penalty notice offences to regulation. Practitioners should therefore consult the current regulations and Ministerial orders that apply to a specific declared event in addition to the Act.
Note: the marginal notes in the Act text identify where amendments were made (Ins, Am, Subst, Rep), but they do not provide the full amendment texts. To advise on the precise changes effected by any amendment, one must consult the amending Acts and the consolidated Act as published by official parliamentary or legislative services.
Litigation history
The provided Act text does not include reported judicial decisions or a list of cases interpreting the Act. The statutory text contains no references to court decisions, and Schedule and section notes do not cite case law. Therefore, the Act as provided contains no litigation history excerpt. Practitioners seeking judicial interpretation must search court databases, law reports and online resources for decisions in which courts have considered the Major Events Act 2009, its interaction with other regimes, or the exercise of powers (for example, road closures, advertising de-branding, deprivation or seizure, or the scope of compensation exclusions).
Given the Act’s emphasis on civil remedies (s 63) and the significant statutory immunities and exemptions from compensation (ss 61-62A), the Act invites litigation that could test:
The reach of compensation exclusions where economic loss is claimed (s 62 and s 62A) and the exceptions for personal injury, death or damage to property.
The scope of the responsible authority’s statutory powers under Part 4,particularly in circumstances involving property rights (advertising removal under s 39), contracts and commercial arrangements (s 65 and s 60 authorisations), and traffic/road closure measures impacting businesses and residents (ss 26-31).
Procedural and administrative law challenges about whether Ministerial orders and regulations validly activate Part 4 powers in a specific event (s 13) and whether statutory notice or consultation obligations (e.g. TfNSW notices, EPA consultation for s 57 declarations) have been met.
Absent case citations in the provided text, a litigation history review requires external legal research. Advisers should check the Supreme Court of NSW, Land and Environment Court, and appellate decisions, as well as Local Court practice, for decisions referencing the Major Events Act and for judicial interpretation of its indemnity and compensation provisions and of the interaction with other statutory regimes.
Gotchas
The Act contains numerous operational traps and practical consequences that can surprise public and private actors if overlooked. The following are concrete "gotchas" grounded in the statutory text.
Event activation is instrument-dependent (s 13, s 5A)
Many of the Part 4 powers only apply if a Ministerial order activates them for that event (s 13(1)). Practitioners cannot assume that because an event is listed as a major event in regulation, all facilitation powers automatically apply. One must check the specific Ministerial order for the event to see which powers are activated, the scope of controlled areas, sales control periods, advertising sites, airspace and parking control periods (s 5A).
Broad delegation plus limited safeguards (ss 67-68)
The responsible authority may delegate many functions to staff, government agencies, police or prescribed classes of persons (s 68). Sub‑delegations to prescribed classes must be limited to a specified major event and cannot apply to key regulatory functions (s 68(3A)). However, "key regulatory function" itself is to be prescribed in regulations (s 68(5)), giving the executive latitude to define what is off-limits. Delegation may thus shift decision-making to third parties but subject to regulatory prescription.
Premier’s unilateral cancellation power (s 4C)
The Premier may cancel or vary a Minister’s order, including Ministerial orders, without needing to consult the promoter where satisfied on reasonable grounds that it is necessary due to significant risk of harm (on advice of a "relevant person") or otherwise in the public interest (s 4C(1)-(3)). Promoters may be surprised by late variations ordered centrally.
Compensation carve-outs are broad but have narrow exceptions (ss 61-62, 62A)
Section 62 excludes compensation by the State, councils and their officers for acts or omissions that are "major event-related matters" done in good faith, except for personal injury or death (s 62(1)-(2)). Section 62A similarly insulates promoters and employees from compensation for economic loss. That means usual causes of action for economic loss or nuisance may be curtailed, but personal injury/death claims remain preserved. Promoters and third parties should check whether any indemnities or contractual agreements create alternative compensation pathways as s 62(3) and s 62A(2)(b) preserve indemnity-based compensation.
Advertising removal powers include property entry (s 39)
The responsible authority may authorise persons to cover, obliterate or remove advertising material and to enter advertising-controlled sites and adjacent premises to do so (s 39(5)-(6)). Those authorised entries can extend onto adjacent premises "if necessary" and may be exercised even where a defence under s 39(9) might otherwise exist (s 39(10)). Residential parts are protected from entry without occupier consent (s 39(7)), but commercial premises are not afforded the same protection.
Short notice closures allowed (s 28)
While some closures require at least three days’ public notice on the TfNSW website (ss 26(3), 27(9)), responsible authorities can direct TfNSW to close roads for up to 7 days without public notice during the relevant major event period (s 28(2)-(3)). That creates operational flexibility but also a potential for last-minute disruption to businesses and residents.
Removal/towing powers are not limited to unlawful parking (s 35)
Section 35 permits removal of unattended vehicles from a road within a transport area where the responsible authority deems removal necessary, and explicitly provides that the vehicle need not be unlawfully standing (s 35(3)). That is a departure from ordinary tow-away thresholds and increases the risk for vehicle owners in or near major event areas.
Sales and charitable activity prohibitions are wide (s 37, s 41)
The definition of "sell" in s 37(9) is expansive and includes supply for profit, hire, consigning, receiving for sale, exposing for sale, soliciting for sale, etc. Section 41 prohibits a wide range of commercial and charitable activities in major event areas unless authorised. Small traders, charities and buskers must check whether approvals are necessary in controlled areas during sales control periods and whether they may be penalised or have goods forfeited.
Aerial advertising and drone usage,substantial risk (ss 38, 40)
Aerial advertising in advertising-controlled airspace is subject to strict regulation, with maximum penalties of 2,000 penalty units (s 40(2)). Section 38 similarly criminalises entry into controlled or restricted airspace in State air navigation during a major event without applicable Commonwealth permission, with the same large penalty (s 38(2)). Drones are explicitly included in the definition of aircraft and the advertisement definition (s 40(7)). Operators must secure Commonwealth and State approvals and responsible authority approvals.
Regulatory discretion over fees and grants of consent (ss 39, 42, 72)
Consents under ss 39, 40 and s 42 may be given with conditions, including payment conditions. The regulations may prescribe fees and charges (s 72(2)(a)) and the responsible authority may require payments as a condition of written consent to use official titles or insignia (s 42(2)(a)). This raises the potential for rent-like extraction where commercial access is tightly controlled, subject to statutory and administrative law limits.
Civil enforcement and injunctions extend beyond direct rights (s 63)
Section 63 enables the responsible authority to seek Supreme Court orders to remedy or restrain breaches of the Act and of agreements prescribed by regulation. The Court may act even if the responsible authority has not suffered an identifiable rights infringement; the threshold is the Court’s satisfaction that a breach has been committed or may be committed. This expands the responsible authority’s civil enforcement toolkit well beyond administrative sanctions.
Regulatory uncertainty about "prescribed" items and offences
The Act relies heavily on regulatory instruments to specify things such as prescribed articles (s 37), prescribed persons for authorisation (s 69A), prescribed government agencies (s 16), key regulatory functions (s 68(5)), and penalty notice offences (s 73(2)). Until those regulations and Ministerial orders are finalised for an event, parties may face legal uncertainty about what is permitted.
Practitioners should therefore read event-specific Ministerial orders, the current regulations and any TfNSW notices, check delegation instruments, and advise clients about the narrow windows for appeals, seizure, forfeiture and limited compensation remedies.
How to comply
This section provides a pragmatic compliance checklist mapped to key provisions and likely operational steps for the principal actors: promoters/responsible authorities, government agencies (including TfNSW and local councils), advertisers/vendors, landowners/off‑site parking operators, and event attendees.
For promoters and responsible authorities
Confirm event activation and scope
Obtain and publish the regulation declaring the event a major event (s 5) and the Ministerial order(s) that specify the major event period, promoter, controlled areas, sales control and parking control periods, advertising-controlled sites and airspace (s 5A).
Ensure the Ministerial order maps precisely the major event area and any transport area (s 4B, s 19) and be aware that the Premier may cancel or vary orders in public interest or safety circumstances (s 4C).
Governance and delegation
Establish or confirm the major event authority if constituted by regulation (s 8).
Appoint advisory committees if needed (s 7) and ensure board/CEO functions, appointments, terms and pecuniary interest disclosures comply with Schedule 1 and ss 9-11.
Put written delegations in place that comply with delegation limits (s 68), ensuring any delegation to an approved class is event-limited and does not cover "key regulatory functions" unless regulations permit (s 68(3A)).
Transport and traffic management
Prepare road and transport plans and traffic management plans in consultation with TfNSW and obtain TfNSW consent in writing prior to the traffic management plan taking effect (s 27(6)).
Ensure major event lanes are properly signed as prescribed traffic control devices (s 23), and establish permit processes and permit display instructions (s 25).
Publish TfNSW closure notices required for closures under ss 26 and 27 at least 3 days prior where applicable (ss 26(3), 27(9)), and document reasoning for any short closures under s 28.
Staffing and authorised officers
Authorise and appoint authorised officers under s 69A, specifying the functions they may exercise and issuing identification cards to non‑police authorised officers (s 70).
Ensure authorised officers are trained in the limits of their powers including search and exclusion protocols (ss 45-46), and in use of reasonable force where authorised.
Commercial and advertising controls
Declare controlled areas and specify prescribed articles for sales control periods via Ministerial order where required (s 37, s 5A).
Identify and publish advertising-controlled sites and airspace through Ministerial order (ss 39-40), and develop approval processes for advertising and aerial advertising applications; ensure decisions are documented and consistent with s 40(5).
Prepare administrative processes for covering, obliterating or removing advertising, including authorisations to enter premises where necessary, and ensure steps are taken to mitigate damage and respect residential protections (s 39(5)-(8)).
Environment and planning authorisations
If development or activities require planning or noise exemptions, seek the Minister’s written approval to obtain exempt development status under s 50 and consult with the EPA for s 57 declarations; publish declarations in the Gazette (s 57(4)-(6)).
Fees, consent and contracts
Where authorisations are conditional on payments, ensure contracts and agreements comply with s 42 and that any arrangements with commercial partners or sponsors align with s 60 (competition authorisations) if necessary.
Maintain records of approvals, permits, fees, and decisions to support enforcement and to defend against appeals or judicial review.
For government agencies (TfNSW, local councils, SES, RFS and others)
Co‑operation and compliance
Comply with s 14 obligations to co-operate, provide information, implement road and transport plans, provide resources when authorised and notify responsible authorities of activities that may impact event operations.
TfNSW should prepare to issue public notices and to consent in writing to traffic management plans (s 27(6)), and to perform directed road closures (s 26).
Consents and emergency services
SES, RFS and any prescribed persons must understand their assisting functions under s 17 and that Security Industry Act licensing does not apply when undertaking functions under s 17(4). Ensure Commissioners’ consent is obtained before personnel are assigned where that consent is required (s 17(3)).
For advertisers, advertisers’ contractors and digital billboard operators
Identify event-specific authorisations
Check whether the site where advertising is proposed is an advertising-controlled site (s 39(1)-(3)) or advertising-controlled airspace (s 40(1)); do not display advertising without responsible authority approval where control is declared (ss 39, 40).
For digital billboard vehicles, do not operate within advertising-controlled sites without permission (s 39A).
Apply early and get written approvals
Prepare and lodge applications in the form specified by the responsible authority for aerial or site advertising approvals (s 40(3)). Retain written approvals and comply with any conditions, including payments (s 40(4)-(6), s 42(2)).
For vendors, buskers, charities and small traders
Confirm controlled areas and sales control periods
Check the Ministerial order for whether your area is a controlled area and whether a sales control period is in force (s 5A, s 37). The sales definition is broad (s 37(9)); obtain approval from the responsible authority or stay outside controlled areas during sales control periods.
Authorisation and appeals
If authorised, ensure compliance with approval conditions. If goods are seized and forfeited under s 37, note the 21 day Local Court appeal window (s 37(6)-(7)) and rehearse likely steps for retrieval.
For landowners and off-site parking providers
Confirm parking control periods and lawfulness
Determine whether land within 5 km of a major event area will be subject to a parking control period under s 59 and ensure any temporary car park use is lawful under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979; otherwise the use may attract penalties (s 59(2)).
Consider permits and approvals
If wanting to provide event parking or shuttle services, seek responsible authority approvals and plan for possible enforcement action or closure notices.
For event attendees and the public
Conditions of entry and searches
Be aware that entry to major event areas may be conditional on undergoing electronic searches, allowing bag searches and removing outerwear (s 45). Refusal is not an offence per se but can lead to exclusion (s 45(1)-(2)).
Respect directions and signage
Comply with signs and authorised officer directions about entry, behaviour, road closures and parking,failures to obey directions can attract penalties and removal (ss 30, 43-46).
Documentary and procedural housekeeping for all parties
Maintain copies of the enabling regulation, Ministerial orders and any TfNSW or other statutory notices that activate or change controls for the event (s 5, s 5A, s 26(3), s 27(9), s 34).
Record authorisations, permits, approvals and delegation instruments; ensure authorised officers carry and can produce identification cards (s 70).
Where the responsible authority relies on environmental or planning exemptions, ensure EPA consultation records and Gazette publication records for declarations are retained (s 57(4)-(6)).
Dispute and redress pathways
Use the dispute resolution procedure between responsible authorities and government agencies (s 18) as a first step before escalation; the responsible authority may bring Supreme Court proceedings under s 63 for restraint or remedy. Individuals and small businesses should note limited compensation avenues (ss 61-62A) and appeal windows for forfeiture (s 37(6)-(7)).
By following these concrete steps aligned to the statutory sections cited, event operators, commercial actors and public authorities can structure operational policies, contracts and public notices so as to reduce enforcement risk and to comply with the event-specific instruments that activate the Major Events Act’s powers.
Act does not apply to motor race conducted under Motor Sports Events Act 2022
board governed authority means a major event authority that is declared by a regulation under section 8 (2) (b) to be an authority governed by a board.
chief executive means a chief executive of a major event authority appointed under section 11.
chief executive governed authority means a major event authority that is declared by a regulation to be an authority governed by a chief executive.
exercise a function includes perform a duty.
function includes a power, authority or duty.
government agency means—
(a) a public authority constituted by or under an Act, or
(b) a NSW Government agency, or
(c) a Public Service agency, or
(d) a local council, or
(e) a State owned corporation,
but does not include the NSW Police Force.
major event means an event that is declared under Part 2 to be a major event.
major event area, for a major event, means an area declared under section 4B to be a major event area for the major event.
major event authority means a major event authority constituted under Part 3.
major event period—see section 5A(1)(a).
Ministerial order means an order made by the Minister under section 5A.
promoter, for a major event, means the person specified in a Ministerial order as the promoter for the major event.
public place means a public place within the meaning of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002, and includes a school within the meaning of that Act.
responsible authority, in relation to a major event, means the person or body designated as the responsible authority for the major event under Part 2.
road and transport plan means a plan prepared by a responsible authority for a major event that sets out policies and procedures to be followed in relation to the provision of integrated road and transport services in relation to the major event.
TfNSW means Transport for NSW constituted under the Transport Administration Act 1988.
the State includes the Crown in right of the State and the Government of the State.
traffic includes vehicular traffic, pedestrian traffic, cyclist traffic, traffic in or on the water and all other kinds of traffic.
transport area means a transport area declared under Division 3 of Part 4.
Note—
The Interpretation Act 1987 contains definitions and other provisions that affect the interpretation and application of this Act.
(2) (Repealed)
(3) Notes included in this Act do not form part of this Act.
s 4: Am 2011 No 41, Sch 5.20 [1]; 2014 No 33, Sch 3.19 [1]; 2020 No 30, Sch 4.39[1]; 2022 No 12, Sch 1[1] [2]; 2024 No 76, Sch 4[2]–[4].
4A Act does not apply to motor race conducted under Motor Sports Events Act 2022
4A Act does not apply to motor race conducted under Motor Sports Events Act 2022
4A Act does not apply to motor race conducted under Motor Sports Events Act 2022
This Act does not apply to a motor race within the meaning of the Motor Sports Events Act 2022.
s 4A: Ins 2022 No 11, Sch 2.2.
4B Declaration of major event area
4B Declaration of major event area
4B Declaration of major event area
(1) The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, declare an area to be the major event area for a major event.
(2) The Minister must not make an order for the purposes of subsection (1) unless the Minister considers that the whole of the proposed major event area is necessary to enable the conduct of the major event.
s 4B: Ins 2022 No 12, Sch 1[3].
4C Cancellation or variation of order by Premier
4C Cancellation or variation of order by Premier
4C Cancellation or variation of order by Premier
(1) The Premier may cancel or vary an order of the Minister for a major event, including a Ministerial order, by giving written notice to the promoter for the event.
(2) The Premier may take action under this section only if—
(a) both of the following apply—
(i) taking the action is on the advice of a relevant person,
(ii) the Premier is reasonably satisfied taking the action is necessary because of a significant risk of harm to persons from a natural or other threat, or
(b) the Premier is reasonably satisfied taking the action is otherwise necessary in the public interest.
(3) The Premier is not required to consult with the promoter before taking action under this section.
(4) In this section—
relevant person means—
(a) the Commissioner of Police, or
(b) the Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW, or
(c) the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service, or
(d) the Commissioner of the State Emergency Service, or
(e) the Chief Health Officer.
vary includes impose conditions or restrictions.
s 4C: Ins 2024 No 76, Sch 4[5].
Part 2 Major events
Part 2 Major events
Part 2 Major events
5 Declaration of major event
5 Declaration of major event
5 Declaration of major event
(1) The regulations may declare an event to be a major event.
(2) The Minister may recommend the making of a regulation under subsection (1) only if the Minister is of the opinion that—
(a) it is in the public interest to make the regulation, and
(b) the event in respect of which the regulation is to be made is a major event at an international, national or State level.
(3) Without limiting any other matters the Minister may consider, the Minister may have regard to the following matters before determining whether to recommend the making of a regulation under subsection (1)—
(a) the potential size of the event,
(b) the likely number of spectators for the event,
(c) the possible media coverage of the event,
(d) the possible economic impact of the event,
(e) the potential contribution to New South Wales’s international profile as a host of major events,
(f) the commercial arrangements for the event, if known,
(g) the views of the event organiser, including the organiser’s event management experience and expertise,
(h) possible factors affecting the operational organisation of the event, such as the following—
(i) preparation of road and transport plans,
(ii) the need for emergency management plans,
(iii) the need for security plans and consultation with police and emergency services,
(i) if known, the views of local councils directly affected by the event in relation to the arrangements made or to be made for the event,
(j) the possible need for consultation and agreements to be made between the event organiser and affected local councils in relation to the event, including any agreements about the restoration of event venues and facilities,
(k) whether the event is a foundation event.
(4) A regulation under subsection (1) must describe the event.
(5) A regulation made under this section may be amended by another regulation.
(6) The regulations may not declare an industrial or political demonstration or protest to be a major event.
(7) For subsection (3)(k), a foundation event is an event—
(a) the Minister for Jobs and Tourism has determined to be significant, and
(b) held annually, biennially or otherwise on a recurring basis, and
(c) for which the State provides significant investment.
s 5: Am 2022 No 12, Sch 1[4] [5]; 2024 No 76, Sch 4[6]–[8].
5A Minister may specify certain matters
5A Minister may specify certain matters
5A Minister may specify certain matters
(1) The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, specify the following for a major event—
(a) the period (the major event period) for which the declaration of the major event is in force,
(b) the provisions of Part 4 that apply in relation to the major event and the period for which the provisions apply,
(c) the person who is the promoter of the major event,
(d) an area as a controlled area under section 37(1),
(e) a sales control period for section 37,
(f) prescribed articles for section 37,
(g) a site as an advertising controlled site under section 39(1),
(h) airspace as advertising controlled airspace under section 40(1),
(i) a period as a parking control period for section 59,
(j) a thing to be a prohibited thing for section 43(7), definition of prohibited thing.
(2) To avoid doubt, a Ministerial order may provide that the responsible authority for a major event is the promoter of the major event.
(3) A Ministerial order takes effect on—
(a) the day the order is published in the Gazette, or
(b) a later day specified in the order.
s 5A: Ins 2024 No 76, Sch 4[9].
6 Designation of responsible authority
6 Designation of responsible authority
6 Designation of responsible authority
A regulation made under section 5 (1) must designate one of the following as the responsible authority for the major event—
(a) a major event authority or other government agency,
(b) a public official (within the meaning of the Public Interest Disclosures Act 2022).
s 6: Am 2010 No 84, Sch 2.7; 2022 No 14, Sch 8.16.
7 Appointment of advisory committees
7 Appointment of advisory committees
7 Appointment of advisory committees
(1) The responsible authority for a major event may appoint such advisory committees as the responsible authority considers appropriate for the purposes of advising the responsible authority for the purposes of this Act.
(2) An advisory committee has such functions as the responsible authority may from time to time determine in writing in respect of it.
(3) An advisory committee consists of such committee members appointed by the responsible authority as the responsible authority thinks fit.
(4) An advisory committee member holds office for such period as is specified in the instrument of appointment of the committee member, but any such appointment may be terminated by the responsible authority at any time.
(5) One of the advisory committee members, in and by the instrument by which the committee member is appointed or another instrument made by the responsible authority, is to be appointed as chairperson of the committee.
(6) An advisory committee member is entitled to be paid such fees and allowances (if any) as the Minister may determine, from time to time, in respect of the committee member.
(7) Subject to the regulations and any directions of the responsible authority, the procedure of an advisory committee appointed under this section is to be as determined by the advisory committee.
(8) The responsible authority may dissolve an advisory committee appointed under this section.
Part 3 Major event authorities
Part 3 Major event authorities
Part 3 Major event authorities
8 Constitution of major event authorities
8 Constitution of major event authorities
8 Constitution of major event authorities
(1) The regulations may establish a corporation and constitute the corporation as a major event authority for the purposes of a specified major event.
(2) Such a regulation must—
(a) specify a corporate name for the major event authority, and
(b) declare whether the authority is a chief executive governed authority or a board governed authority, and
(c) set out the functions of the authority in relation to the major event.
(3) A major event authority is a NSW Government agency.
9 Management of authorities
9 Management of authorities
9 Management of authorities
(1) The affairs of a major event authority are to be managed and controlled by—
(a) if the authority is a chief executive governed authority—the chief executive of the authority, or
(b) if the authority is a board governed authority—the chief executive, subject to and in accordance with any directions given to the chief executive by the board of the authority.
(2) A major event authority is subject to the control and direction of the Minister in the exercise of its functions.
10 Major event authority boards
10 Major event authority boards
10 Major event authority boards
(1) There is constituted a major event authority board for each board governed authority.
(2) A major event authority board is to be called the “[name of board governed authority] Board”.
(3) The members of a board of a major event authority are to be appointed by the Minister.
(4) The regulations are to determine the number of the members of the board of a major event authority and the qualifications (if any) those members must have.
(5) Schedule 1 contains provisions relating to board governed authorities.
11 Chief executives of major event authorities
11 Chief executives of major event authorities
11 Chief executives of major event authorities
(1) The chief executive of a major event authority is the person employed in the Public Service as the chief executive of that authority.
(2) If the major event authority is a board governed authority, the chief executive may be represented at any meeting of the board by a person nominated for the time being by the chief executive. In representing the chief executive, the person nominated has a
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.