Under recent new legislation, anyone who organises a gathering that becomes out of control commits an offence that has a maximum penalty or 12 months in prison and a $12,000 fine. The gathering must be of at least 12 people, with at least two engaging in specified conduct, including such things as trespassing, damaging property, disorderly conduct, emitting unreasonable noise and being drunk or affected by drugs.
It is also an offence for anyone at a gathering to interfere with the ‘lawful activities of any person,’ including police.
Failure to comply with an order given by a police officer can result in a penalty of 12 months imprisonment or a $12,000 fine.
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READ NOWA person who is convicted of organising a gathering that became out-of-control may also be ordered by a court to pay all or some of the costs incurred by police in |attending the incident.
The Department of Environment and Conservation has a host of regulations regarding the use of State Forests under its management.
Regulation 105 of the CALM Regulations of 2002 state that a person must not, without lawful authority, organise, advertise or hold a meeting, function or event on CALM land which is likely to involve the attendance of more than 100 people.
The penalty is a fine of up to $2000.
A DEC spokesperson also said a doof could breach any of the following regulations:
– Littering: Penalty a fine of up to $1000
– Glass in restricted areas. Penalty a fine of up to $500.
– Unauthorised lighting of camp fires. Penalty a fine of up to $2000.
– Entering a closed area without authority. Penalty a fine of up to $1000.
– Unlawful camping. Penalty a fine of up to $500.
– Offensive noise. A fine of up to $500
– Affected by drink or drugs. A fine of up to $500