Of the grand order of folio leviathans, the Sperm Whale and the Right Whale are by far the most noteworthy. They are the only whales regularly hunted by man. To the Nantucketer, they present the two extremes of all the known varieties of the whale. As the external difference between them is mainly observable in their heads; and as a head of each is this moment hanging from the Pequod's side.
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Industry Issues
A new analysis from the University of Technology Sydney shows that attending Australia’s multi-day music festivals costs far more than the ticket price. Travel, camping or accommodation, food and time off work all shape who can participate, with affordability varying widely across events.
March 26, 2026
The Australian Centre for Regional Events (ACRE) today announced the launch of Eventfolk, a vital new national community designed to combat the intense isolation and burnout faced by regional and rural event organisers. Eventfolk is ACRE’s answer to the rising pressures threatening the survival of events across regional Australia – from escalating costs and climate change challenges to overwhelming compliance and volunteer fatigue. It offers a dedicated platform for connection, collaboration, and collective …
October 27, 2025
BESydney has welcomed the release of the NSW Government’s new Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 by NSW Premier Chris Minns and the Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Steve Kamper. It’s an ambitious roadmap, which sets a clear target to generate $91 billion in annual visitor expenditure and generate an additional 150,000 jobs by 2035. The Strategy, which was developed following extensive consultation with over 500 NSW stakeholders, including BESydney, focuses …
August 28, 2025
Reports of the decline of Victoria’s events industry have been greatly exaggerated. Yes, challenges exist – workforce shortages, shifting audience behaviours, and the aftershocks of Covid – but the idea that this industry is in freefall is not only misleading, it’s damaging. Negative headlines may grab attention, and sell papers, but they don’t tell the whole story. More importantly, they don’t help the thousands of professionals and businesses working …
August 19, 2025
A recent article in The Australian claimed that the number of event organisers in Victoria, particularly compared with New South Wales and Queensland, is in decline, and that the industry is slowly being killed off. #eventprofsau #businessevents
August 18, 2025
Portable chargers and power banks have become a carry-on essential to keep devices charged up for work or entertainment while travelling. But, with airline changing on-board battery policies, travellers are being urged to be aware of new requirements and rely on other measures to keep connected in-air. Popular long-haul carrier Singapore Airlines and its low-cost carrier, Scoot, along with China Airlines, Thai Airways, Korean Airlines, Asiana Airlines, EVA Air, …
August 1, 2025
Adelaide’s Novatech Creative Event Technology continue to lead the way in staff wellbeing and recognition in the production industry, capitalising on their location in Australia’s ‘lifestyle superpower’ capital city. Acknowledging that even Adelaide has been hit with rising house prices, going up more than 12% in the last year alone, and increased living costs, Novatech’s new employee initiatives are a commitment to supporting staff through this difficult time. The …
August 1, 2025
One of the most successful entrants in the Australian Event Awards recently has been The Shift Corp with three Public Event Management Company of the year wins, along with Charity Event of the year and Brand Event of the year in 2023. The promos for Wiingman started to appear in my inbox, so I sat down with Hailey Mason, CEO of The Shift Corp to find out what this …
July 21, 2025
One of the important aspects of events held in New Zealand is the acknowledgement and involvement of the Māori. During my visits to NZ for the Meetings expos I have observed how BEIA involve the local Māori in their events. To find out more I sat down with Kiriana Koni, Māori Development Manager at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, who explained the background to the welcome ceremony. “The haka pōwhiri is …
July 11, 2025
Industry Issues Archives | Australasian Special Events
Corruptible Events: Why Festivals and Events Foster Misconduct
Event organisers today must address a wide range of responsibilities – from occupational health and safety (OH&S) to accessibility, inclusion, and more. But there’s another crucial issue that often goes overlooked: corruption. Bill O’Toole Festivals, concerts, and even academic conferences – being international, cross-border, multi-funded, and temporary – are especially vulnerable to corrupt practices. As public events grow in size, number, and impact, they increasingly attract illegal activity. Recent …