Falls Festival organisers have called for greater respect for women in the wake of allegations of five sexual assaults at their Tasmania concert.
Five young women reported being assaulted at the festival’s Marion Bay event, which ran from December 29 to 31.
Festival organisers today posted a statement on Facebook condemning the alleged behaviour.
https://www.facebook.com/fallsfestival/posts/10154920065583680
“Everybody has the right to move through life – not just at a music festival, but everywhere – free to feel safe and confident to enjoy their surroundings,” they wrote.
“Like everyone else we are disgusted and angry that some people feel they can inappropriately touch others without their consent.
Read more: Tasmanian police investigate five sexual assault reports from Falls Festival
“We would like to see the conversation turn from telling our women and girls to be on guard and vigilant, to telling our boys and men to have some respect and stop taking these liberties”.
Organisers reported they were doing “everything in their power” to identify the perpetrators, stating “our thoughts are with the alleged victims and their families at this time”.
Tasmania Police yesterday appealed for footage from the public regarding the assaults.
Meanwhile, reports suggest Falls Festival organisers could face legal action after a “crowd crush” at a separate event in Lorne, Victoria, on December 31.
Nineteen people were taken to hospital with broken bones and other serious injuries after a large crowd exited the Grand Theatre.
Read more: Falls could face lawsuit over crowd crush