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Over 100k festival-goers to receive notices for strip-search class action
In response to alleged unlawful strip searches at music events and festivals, more than 100,000 festival-goers have been invited to join in a class action lawsuit against the state of NSW.
Grace Robbie
Tens of thousands of Australian festival-goers who attended NSW music festivals between 2016 and 2022 have been invited to participate in a class action against the state of NSW. The lawsuit challenges the “legality” of the strip searches carried out by law enforcement at these events.
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Slater & Gordon Lawyers and Redfern Legal Centre initiated the class action lawsuits against the state of NSW in July 2022 on behalf of individuals who were allegedly subjected to invasive and unlawful searches by police officers at music festivals over the past six years.
The proceedings allege that, during searches for illegal drugs at the music festivals, police officers engaged in unlawful conduct, including assault, battery, and false imprisonment.
A four-week trial has been scheduled to address this matter, commencing on 5 May 2025 in the NSW Supreme Court, despite the NSW government’s attempt to shut down the class action.
Jordyn Keating, a class action associate at Slater & Gordon, explained that the NSW Supreme Court has ordered notices be issued to individuals who purchased tickets to music festivals and events throughout the state during the six-year period under consideration in the proceeding.
“To date, court-approved notices have been distributed to more than 100,000 people who purchased tickets for music festivals in NSW during the relevant period,” Keating said.
Keating explained that the notice issued to these individuals will inform them about the ongoing class action proceeding and provide instructions on how to indicate their interest or, alternatively, how to formally withdraw from the class action if they choose not to be involved.
“The notice informs potential group members about the proceeding, explains how they can register their interest if they too were affected or opt out of the claim should they not wish to be included in the class action,” Keating said.
Police accountability solicitor at Redfern Legal Centre, Samantha Lee, commented on how “this action has the potential to hold NSW Police accountable and offer legal recourse, providing justice to hundreds of individuals who have endured invasive, often traumatic, and unlawful strip searches”.
This class action builds upon the ongoing efforts of Redfern Legal Centre’s Safe and Sound campaign, which is actively working to reform strip-search laws by advocating for legislative changes and raising public awareness.
The group proceedings also underscore findings from research conducted by the University of NSW, which revealed a troubling escalation in the use of strip-search powers by NSW Police, with the frequency of such searches having surged nearly twentyfold over the past 12 years.
Keating urged anyone with questions about the class action or their legal rights concerning strip searches at NSW music festivals to visit Slater & Gordon’s website.
“Anyone who has any questions about the class action, or their legal rights in respect of being strip-searched at a music festival in NSW between 2016 and 2022, should visit Slater & Gordon’s website. The firm has a dedicated team available for inquiries related to this proceeding,” Keating said.
