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Free Amyl and the Sniffers Melbourne Show Canceled Minutes Before Set Over Safety Breaches

The venue operator cites repeated fence breaches as an unacceptable risk, prompting a review of how it stages free events.

Overview

  • Federation Square reached capacity at about 10,000 and closed entry before large groups pushed at perimeter fences, including near emergency gates.
  • Organiser MAP Co called off the show minutes before the scheduled 8:30pm start, warning of a very high risk of crowd crush after repeated breaches.
  • Victoria Police assisted security following reports of attempted gate-crashing, with no offences detected and the site largely cleared within about an hour.
  • Amyl and the Sniffers apologised online and criticised on-site security, saying barriers were crushed and police shut the show down.
  • Within hours the band placed $5,000 tabs at seven Melbourne venues — a $35,000 shout — as a goodwill gesture to disappointed fans while procedures face review.